Isaiah 9

1 Nevertheless the dimness [shall] not [be] such as [was] in her distress, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun, and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict [her by] the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in 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 that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shades of death, upon them hath the light 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 Thou hast multiplied the nation, [and] not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, [and] 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 thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, 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 every battle of the warrior [is] with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but [this] shall be with burning [and] fuel of 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 shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The 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 peace [there shall be] no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. 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 hath lighted upon Israel.

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

9 And all the people shall know, [even] Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness 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 down, but we will build with hewn stones; the sycamores are cut down, but we will change [them into] cedars.

“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 the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together;

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

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.

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 For the people turn not to him that smiteth them, neither do they seek 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, branch and rush, in one day.

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

15 The ancient and honorable, he [is] the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he [is] the tail.

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

16 For the leaders of this people cause [them] to err; and [they that 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 have no joy in their young men, neither will have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one [is] a hypocrite 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.

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 burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up [like] the rising 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 is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare 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 And he 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:

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.