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.

The gloom will be dispelled from her who was in anguish. In an earlier time he humiliated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the later time he will make it glorious, the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

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.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who have lived in the land of the shadow of death, the light has shone on them.

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 have multiplied the nation; you have increased their joy. They rejoice before you like the joy at harvest time, as men rejoice when they divide the plunder.

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 the yoke of his burden, the beam across his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have shattered as on the day of Midian.

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 boot treading in the tumult and the garments rolled in blood will 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 to us a child has been born, to us a son has been given; and the rule will be on his shoulder; and his name 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.

Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, as he rules on the throne of David, and over his kingdom, to establish it and sustain it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and for evermore. The zeal of Yahweh of hosts will do this.

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

The Lord sent a word against Jacob, and it fell on 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 know, even Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, who say in pride and with an arrogant heart,

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 bricks have fallen, but we will rebuild with chiseled stone; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.”

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

Therefore Yahweh will raise up against him Rezin, his adversary, and will stir up his enemies,

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.

the Arameans on the east, and the Philistines on the west. They will devour Israel with open mouth. In all these things, his anger does not subside; instead, his hand is still stretched out.

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

Yet the people will not turn to him who struck them, nor will they seek Yahweh of hosts.

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

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

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

The leader and the noble man are the head; and the prophet that teaches lies is the tail.

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

Those who lead this people lead them astray, and those who are led by them are swallowed up.

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.

Therefore the Lord will not rejoice over their young men nor will he have compassion on their fatherless and widows, since every one is godless and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks foolish things. In all these things, his anger does not subside; instead, his hand is still stretched out.

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.

Wickedness burns like a fire; it devours the briers and thorns; it even burns the thickets of the forest, which rise in a column of smoke.

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.

Through the fury of Yahweh of hosts the land is scorched, and the people are like fuel for the fire. No man spares his brother.

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:

They will grab food on the right hand but still be hungry; they will eat food on the left hand but will not be satisfied. Each will even eat the flesh of his own arm.

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 will devour Ephraim, and Ephraim, Manasseh; and they together will attack Judah. In all these things, his anger does not subside; instead, his hand is still stretched out.