Isaiah 9
1 However, those in Judah who have been distressed/worried will not [continue to] suffer. Previously, Yahweh humbled [the people in] the land [where the tribes of] Zebulun and Naphtali [live]. But in the future he will honor [the people who live in] that Galilee region, along the road between the Jordan [River] and the [Mediterranean] Sea, where [many] foreigners live.
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 [Some day, it will be as though] [MET] the people who walked in darkness will see a great light. A [great] light will shine on those who live in a land where they have great troubles/distress.
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 [Yahweh], you will cause us people in Israel to rejoice; we will become very happy. We will rejoice about what you [have done] like [SIM] people rejoice when they harvest their crops, [or] like soldiers rejoice when they divide up among themselves the things that they have captured in a battle.
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 You will cause us to no longer be slaves [MET] [of those who captured us]; you will lift the heavy burdens from our shoulders. [It will be as though] you will break the rods of those who oppressed us, like you did when you destroyed [the army of] the Midian people-group.
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 The boots that the enemy soldiers have worn and their clothing which has stains of blood on them will all be burned up; they will only be fuel for a [big] 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 Another reason that we will rejoice is that a [special] child will be born for us; [a woman will give birth to] a son, who will be our ruler. And his names will be ‘Wonderful Counselor’, ‘Mighty/Powerful God’, ‘[Our] Everlasting Father’, and ‘Prince/Ruler [who enables us to have] 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 His rule, and the peace that he [brings/causes], will never end. He will rule [MTY] fairly and justly [DOU], like [his ancestor King] David did. This will happen because the Commander of the armies of angels greatly desires that it happen.
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 has warned the people of Israel, the descendants of Jacob; he has said that [he will punish] them.
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 in Samaria and [other places in] Israel know that, [but] they are very proud and arrogant [DOU]. They say, “Our city has been destroyed, but we will [take away the broken bricks from the ruins] [and] replace them with carefully cut stones. Our sycamore-fig trees have been cut down [by our enemies], but we will plant cedar trees [in their place].”
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：「
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 But Yahweh brought the armies of [Assyria], the enemies of King Rezin [of Syria, to fight] against Israel and incited [other] nations [to attack Israel].
所以上主必興起他的對手，慫恿他的仇敵來攻擊他：
12 [The army of] Syria [came] from the east, and [the army of] Philistia [came] from the west, and they destroyed Israel [like a wild animal tears another animal apart and] [MET] devours it. But even after that happened, Yahweh was still very angry with them. He was ready to strike them with his fist again.
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 [But even though] Yahweh punished his people [like that], they [still] did not return to him [and worship him]. They [still] did not request the Commander of the armies of angels [to assist them].
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, in one day Yahweh will get rid of [those who are like] Israel’s head and [those who are like] its tail; the [ones who are like] the top of the palm tree and the [ones who are like] the bottom.
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 leaders [DOU] of Israel are the head, and the prophets who tell lies are the tail.
長者和尊者是首，傳授謊言的先知是尾。】
16 The leaders of the people have misled them; they have caused the people that they are ruling to be confused.
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 For that reason, Yahweh is not pleased with the young men [of Israel], and he does not [even] act mercifully toward the widows and orphans, because they are all ungodly and wicked, and they all say things that are foolish. [But] Yahweh still is angry with them; he is ready to strike them with his fist again.
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 When people do wicked things, it is like [SIM] a brushfire [that spreads rapidly]. It burns up [not only] briers and thorns; it starts a big fire in the forests from which clouds of smoke will rise.
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 [It is as though] the [whole] land is burned [black] because the Commander of the armies of angels is extremely angry with the Israeli people. They will become like [SIM] fuel for that great fire, and no one will try to rescue even his [own] brother [from that fire].
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 Israeli people will attack their neighbors on the right [to get food from them], but they will still be hungry. They will [kill those who live in houses] on the left and eat their flesh, but their stomachs will still not be full.
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 [People of the tribes of] Manasseh and Ephraim will attack each other, and [then] they will both attack the people of Judah. But even after that happens, Yahweh will still be very angry with them. He will be ready to strike them with his fist again.
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。
