< Isaiah 9 >
1 But there shall be no gloom to her that 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 hath he made it glorious, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
因為遭受災難的,必將免於黑暗。往昔上主曾使則步隆和納翡塔里地域受了侮辱,但日後卻使沿海之路,約但東岸,外方人的加里肋亞獲得了光榮。
2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
在黑暗中行走的百姓看見了一道皓光,光輝已射在那寄居在漆黑之地的人們身上。
3 Thou hast multiplied the nation, thou hast increased their joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
你加強了他們的快樂,擴大了他們的歡喜;他們在你面前歡樂,有如人收割時的歡樂,又如分贓時的愉快;
4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, thou hast broken as in the day of Midian.
因為你折斷了他們所負的重軛、他們肩上的橫木,以及壓迫他們者的短棍,有如在米德楊那天一樣;
5 For all the armour of the armed man in the tumult, and the garments rolled in blood, shall even be for burning, for fuel of fire.
因為戰士所穿發響的軍靴,和染滿血跡的戰袍,都要被焚毀,作為火燄的燃料。
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
因為有一個嬰孩為我們誕生了,有一個兒子賜給了我們;他肩上擔負著王權,他的名子要稱為神奇的謀士、強有力的天主、永遠之父、和平之王。
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with judgment and with righteousness from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts shall perform this.
他的王權是偉大的,達味的御座和他王國的平安是無限的,他將以正義與公平對王國加以鞏固與保持,從今時直到永遠:萬軍上主的熱誠必要完成這事。
8 The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.
吾主發出了一句相反雅各伯的話,這話臨於以色列。
9 And all the people shall know, [even] Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in pride and in stoutness of heart,
整個民眾,即厄弗辣因和撒瑪黎雅的居民,終必領悟,因為他們曾自負,且心高氣傲說:「
10 The bricks are fallen, but we will build with hewn stone: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.
假使磚瓦墮毀了,我們將以方石再建;假使桑樹伐倒了,我們將代以香柏! 」
11 Therefore the LORD shall set up on high against him the adversaries of Rezin, and shall stir up his enemies;
所以上主必興起他的對手,慫恿他的仇敵來攻擊他:
12 the Syrians before, and the Philistines behind, and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
東有阿蘭,西有培肋舍特,他們必張口併吞以色列;然而他的震怒並未因此而熄滅,他的手仍然伸著。
13 Yet the people hath not turned unto him that smote them, neither have they sought the LORD of hosts.
但民眾仍沒有歸依打擊他們的天主,仍不尋求萬軍的上主。
14 Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, palm-branch and rush, in one day.
因此,上主要在一天之內,砍斷以色列的首尾、棕枝和蘆葦。【
15 The ancient and the honourable man, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.
長者和尊者是首,傳授謊言的先知是尾。】
16 For they that lead this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.
因為領導這民族的人走入了歧途,受引導的人陷入了混亂。
17 Therefore the Lord shall not rejoice over their young men, neither shall he have compassion on their fatherless and widows: for every one is profane and an evil-doer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
因此,吾主將毫不憐憫他的少年,毫不撫恤他的孤兒和寡婦,因為他們都是乖戾邪惡的,並且都是口出惡言的,然而他的震怒並未因此而熄滅,他的手仍然伸著。
18 For wickedness burneth as the fire; it devoureth the briers and thorns: yea, it kindleth in the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in thick clouds of smoke.
罪惡猶如燃燒的火燄,焚毀荊棘和蒺藜,使叢林燎起大火,煙柱因此旋轉上騰。
19 Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts is the land burnt up: the people also are as the fuel of fire; no man spareth his brother.
由於萬軍上主的憤怒,地域將被燒毀,百姓成為火燄的柴薪,無人撫恤自己的弟兄,
20 And one shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:
各吃自己近人的肉:向右攫食的,仍舊遭受飢餓;向左吞噬的,依然不得果腹。
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.
默納協吞噬厄弗辣因,厄弗辣因吞滅默納協,二者又合力併吞猶大;然而他的震怒並未因此而熄滅,他的手仍然伸著。