Isaiah 9

1 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.

Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those in distress. In the past He humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future He will honor the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations:

2 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.

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.

3 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.

You have enlarged the nation and increased its joy. The people rejoice before You as they rejoice at harvest time, as men rejoice in dividing the plunder.

4 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.

For as in the day of Midian You have shattered the yoke of their burden, the bar across their shoulders, and the rod of their oppressor.

5 For every boot treading in the tumult and the garments rolled in blood will be burned, fuel for the fire.

For every trampling boot of battle and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.

6 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.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 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.

Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.

8 The Lord sent a word against Jacob, and it fell on Israel.

The Lord has sent a message against Jacob, and it has fallen upon Israel.

9 All the people will know, even Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, who say in pride and with an arrogant heart,

All the people will know it— Ephraim and the dwellers of Samaria. With pride and arrogance of heart they will say:

10 “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.”

“The bricks have fallen, but we will rebuild with finished stone; the sycamores have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars.”

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

The LORD has raised up the foes of Rezin against him and joined his enemies together.

12 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.

Aram from the east and Philistia from the west have devoured Israel with open mouths. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.

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

But the people did not return to Him who struck them; they did not seek the LORD of Hosts.

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

So the LORD will cut off Israel’s head and tail, both palm branch and reed in a single day.

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

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

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

For those who guide this people mislead them, and those they mislead are swallowed up.

17 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.

Therefore the Lord takes no pleasure in their young men; He has no compassion on their fatherless and widows. For every one of them is godless and wicked, and every mouth speaks folly. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.

18 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.

For wickedness burns like a fire that consumes the thorns and briers and kindles the forest thickets which roll upward in billows of smoke.

19 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.

By the wrath of the LORD of Hosts the land is scorched, and the people are fuel for the fire. No man even spares his brother.

20 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.

They carve out what is on the right, but they are still hungry; they eat what is on the left, but they are still not satisfied. Each one devours the flesh of his own offspring.

21 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.

Manasseh devours Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh; together they turn against Judah. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.