Isaiah 9

1 But there shall be no more gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time, he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the latter time he has made it glorious, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

Even so, there will be no more darkness for those who suffered. In the past he humiliated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will bring honor to Galilee of the foreigners that is on the route that leads from Jordan to the sea.

2 The people sitting in darkness have seen a great light. Those living in the land and shadow of death, on them a light has shined.

People walking in the dark will see a bright light; a light will shine on those living in a land of total darkness.

3 You have multiplied the nation. You have increased his joy. They rejoice before you according to the joy in harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

You will make the nation grow enormously, and will make it extremely happy. The people will celebrate before you as people celebrate at harvest time, as soldiers celebrate when dividing up what has been looted.

4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as in the day of Midian.

For you will smash the yoke that burdens them down, the bar across their shoulders, and the oppressors' rod used to beat them just as you did when you defeated the Midianite army.

5 For all the armor of the armed man in the noisy battle, and the garments rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire.

For every army boot that noisily trampled people down, and every uniform soaked in blood—they are going to be burned, fuel for the fire.

6 For to us a child is born. To us a son is given; and the government will be on his shoulders, and his name is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us. He will bear the responsibility to rule. He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, on the throne of David, and on his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from that time on, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

His rule and the peace he brings know no limits and will never come to an end. He will sit on David's throne and rule his kingdom, making it secure. He will operate from principles of justice and goodness, from the time he begins his rule and for all eternity. The Lord Almighty is determined to make this happen.

8 The LORD sent a word into Jacob, and it falls on Israel.

The Lord has sent a message directed against Jacob, and its consequences will fall upon Israel.

9 All the people will know, including Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, who say in pride and in arrogance of heart,

All the people will soon realize it—Ephraim and the people who live in Samaria. Proudly and arrogantly they say,

10 "The bricks have fallen, but we will build with cut stone. The sycamore fig trees have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place."

“The brick buildings have collapsed, but we will rebuild them with dressed stone; the sycamore fig trees have been cut down, but we will replace them with cedars.”

11 Therefore the LORD will set up on high against him the adversaries of Rezin, and will stir up his enemies,

But the Lord has strengthened Rezin's enemies against Israel and has encouraged them.

12 The Arameans in front, and the Philistines behind; and they will devour Israel with open mouth. For all this, his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

Arameans from the east and Philistines from the west have greedily eaten swallowed Israel up. In all of this he is still angry and his hand is still raised.

13 Yet the people have not turned to him who struck them, neither have they sought the LORD of hosts.

But the people didn't return to the one who punished them; they didn't come to worship the Lord Almighty.

14 Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed, in one day.

So in just a single day the Lord will chop off Israel's head and tail, palm branch and reed.

15 The elder and the honorable man is the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail.

Elders and honorable people are the head, and prophets who teach lies are the tail.

16 For those who lead this people lead them astray; and those who are led by them are destroyed.

The people's leaders have misled them; those who were guided by them are confused.

17 Therefore the LORD will not rejoice over their young men, neither will he have compassion on their fatherless and widows; for everyone is profane and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

As a result the Lord isn't pleased with their young men, he has no compassion for their orphans and widows, because all of them are hypocrites and do what's evil—they all talk stupidly. In all of this he is still angry and his hand is still raised.

18 For wickedness burns like a fire. It devours the briers and thorns; yes, it kindles in the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column of smoke.

For wickedness blazes like a fire, burning up brambles and thorns, setting the forest on fire, sending a column of smoke swirling upwards.

19 Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts, the land is burnt up; and the people are the fuel for the fire. No one spares his brother.

The anger of the Lord Almighty burns the land. People are like fuel for the fire, and nobody tries to help anyone else.

20 One will devour on the right hand, and be hungry; and he will eat on the left hand, and they will not be satisfied. Everyone will eat the flesh of his own arm:

People destroy others on the right, yet they're still hungry for more; people destroy others on the left, but they're still not satisfied. In the end they even destroy themselves!

21 Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh; and they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

Manasseh destroys Ephraim, and Ephraim destroys Manasseh. Together they turn to destroy Judah. In all of this he is still angry and his hand is still raised.