1[1] Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honour Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan –2The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.3You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.4For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.5Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.6For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.7Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and for ever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
The Lord’s anger against Israel
8The Lord has sent a message against Jacob; it will fall on Israel.9All the people will know it – Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria – who say with pride and arrogance of heart,10‘The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with dressed stone; the fig-trees have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars.’11But the Lord has strengthened Rezin’s foes against them and has spurred their enemies on.12Arameans from the east and Philistines from the west have devoured Israel with open mouth. Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.13But the people have not returned to him who struck them, nor have they sought the Lord Almighty.14So the Lord will cut off from Israel both head and tail, both palm branch and reed in a single day;15the elders and dignitaries are the head, the prophets who teach lies are the tail.16Those who guide this people mislead them, and those who are guided are led astray.17Therefore the Lord will take no pleasure in the young men, nor will he pity the fatherless and widows, for everyone is ungodly and wicked, every mouth speaks folly. Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.18Surely wickedness burns like a fire; it consumes briers and thorns, it sets the forest thickets ablaze, so that it rolls upwards in a column of smoke.19By the wrath of the Lord Almighty the land will be scorched and the people will be fuel for the fire; they will not spare one another.20On the right they will devour, but still be hungry; on the left they will eat, but not be satisfied. Each will feed on the flesh of their own offspring[2]:21Manasseh will feed on Ephraim, and Ephraim on Manasseh; together they will turn against Judah. Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.
Isaiah 9
English Standard Version
For to Us a Child Is Born
1[1] But there will be no gloom for her who 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 he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.[2] (2Ki 15:29; 2Ch 16:4; Isa 8:22; Isa 26:15; Mt 4:15)2[3] The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. (Job 3:5; Isa 9:1; Lu 1:79; Eph 5:8; Eph 5:14)3You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. (Jud 5:30; 1Sa 30:16; Ps 4:7; Ps 119:162; Isa 26:15; Joh 4:36)4For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. (Jud 7:19; Jud 8:10; Ps 83:9; Isa 10:5; Isa 10:24; Isa 10:26; Isa 10:27; Isa 14:5; Isa 14:25; Na 1:13; Mt 11:29)5For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. (Eze 39:9)6For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon[4] his shoulder, and his name shall be called[5] Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (De 10:17; Ne 9:32; Ps 45:3; Ps 72:7; Ps 72:17; Isa 7:14; Isa 10:21; Isa 11:6; Isa 22:22; Isa 28:29; Isa 63:16; Jer 32:18; Mt 28:18; Lu 2:11; Joh 3:16; Joh 14:18; 1Co 15:25; Eph 2:14)7Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. (2Ki 19:31; Ps 89:4; Isa 37:32; Jer 23:5; Zec 1:14; Lu 1:32)
Judgment on Arrogance and Oppression
8The Lord has sent a word against Jacob, and it will fall on Israel;9and all the people will know, Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, who say in pride and in arrogance of heart: (Isa 7:2; Isa 7:5; Isa 7:8; Isa 7:17)10“The bricks have fallen, but we will build with dressed stones; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.”11But the Lord raises the adversaries of Rezin against him, and stirs up his enemies.12The Syrians on the east and the Philistines on the west devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still. (2Ki 16:6; 2Ch 28:18; Isa 5:25; Isa 9:17; Isa 9:21; Isa 10:4)13The people did not turn to him who struck them, nor inquire of the Lord of hosts. (Isa 1:5; Ho 7:10)14So the Lord cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed in one day— (De 28:13; Isa 19:15)15the elder and honored man is the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail; (Isa 3:2; Isa 28:7; Mic 3:5)16for those who guide this people have been leading them astray, and those who are guided by them are swallowed up.17Therefore the Lord does not rejoice over their young men, and has no compassion on their fatherless and widows; for everyone is godless and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly.[6] For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still. (Ge 34:7; Ps 147:10; Isa 9:12; Isa 10:6)18For wickedness burns like a fire; it consumes briers and thorns; it kindles the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column of smoke. (Ps 83:14; Jas 3:5)19Through the wrath of the Lord of hosts the land is scorched, and the people are like fuel for the fire; no one spares another. (Isa 24:6; Mic 7:2)20They slice meat on the right, but are still hungry, and they devour on the left, but are not satisfied; each devours the flesh of his own arm, (De 28:53; Isa 8:21; Isa 49:26)21Manasseh devours Ephraim, and Ephraim devours Manasseh; together they are against Judah. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still. (2Ch 28:6; Isa 9:12; Isa 11:13)