9
1 But there shall be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali into contempt, but in the latter time he shall bring glory to the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
on those dwelling in the land of the shadow of death, light has shone.
3 You have multiplied the nation and increased its joy.
They rejoice before you as with joy at harvest, as people exult when dividing spoil.
4 For the yoke of their burden, the staff on their shoulder, and the rod of their oppressor you have shattered as on the day of Midian.
5 For every boot that tramps with a rumble and every garment rolled in blood shall be burned, fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;
the government shall be upon his shoulder.
His name shall 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 over his kingdom, to establish and uphold it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
8 The Lord has sent a word against Jacob, and it has fallen on Israel.
9 All the people shall know it, Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, who say in pride and arrogance of heart,
10 “The bricks have fallen, but we will build with cut stone;
the sycamores have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars.”
11 The LORD will raise Rezin’s adversaries against him and stir up his enemies:
12 Aram from the east and the Philistines from the west;
they shall devour Israel with open mouth.
For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is still stretched out.
13 But the people have not returned to the one who struck them, nor have they sought the LORD of hosts.
14 So the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed, in one day.
15 The elder and the respected man are the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail.
16 The guides of this people lead them astray, and those they guide are swallowed up.
17 Therefore the Lord will not rejoice over their young men or have compassion on their fatherless and widows, for everyone is godless and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly.
For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is still stretched out.
18 For wickedness burns like fire;
it consumes briers and thorns and sets the forest thickets ablaze.
They roll upward in a column of smoke.
19 By the wrath of the LORD of hosts the land is scorched, and the people are fuel for the fire;
no one spares his brother.
20 They snatch on the right, yet are hungry;
they eat on the left, yet are not satisfied.
Each eats the flesh of his own arm:
21 Manasseh devours Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh;
together they are against Judah.
For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is still stretched out.