9:1 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 honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan–
9:2 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.
9:3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.
9:4 For 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.
9:5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.
9:6 For 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 Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
9:7 Of the increase 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 forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.
9:8 The Lord has sent a message against Jacob; it will fall on Israel.
9:9 All the people will know it–Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria–who say with pride and arrogance of heart,
9:10 “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.”
9:11 But the LORD has strengthened Rezin’s foes against them and has spurred their enemies on.
9:12 Arameans 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.
9:13 But the people have not returned to him who struck them, nor have they sought the LORD Almighty.
9:14 So the LORD will cut off from Israel both head and tail, both palm branch and reed in a single day;
9:15 the elders and prominent men are the head, the prophets who teach lies are the tail.
9:16 Those who guide this people mislead them, and those who are guided are led astray.
9:17 Therefore 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 vileness. Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.
9:18 Surely wickedness burns like a fire; it consumes briers and thorns, it sets the forest thickets ablaze, so that it rolls upward in a column of smoke.
9:19 By the wrath of the LORD Almighty the land will be scorched and the people will be fuel for the fire; no one will spare his brother.
9:20 On 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 his own offspring:
9:21 Manasseh 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.
9:1 But gloom does not remain in the place where there was anguish: formerly He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali contemptibly, but afterward He treats the way of the sea, across the Jordan, with glory, Galilee of the nations.
9:2 The people who walked in the darkness / Have seen a great light; / Upon those who dwell in the land of the shadow of death / Light has shined.
9:3 You have multiplied the nation; / You have increased their gladness; / They are glad before You as with the gladness of harvest, / As men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
9:4 For You break the yoke of their burden / And the staff on their shoulder, / The rod of their oppressor, / As in the day of Midian.
9:5 For all the boots / Of those who in boots trample in the battle-quake / And the garments / Rolled in blood / Are for burning; / They are fuel for fire.
9:6 For a child is born to us, / A Son is given to us; / And the government / Is upon His shoulder; / And His name will be called / Wonderful Counselor, / Mighty God, / Eternal Father, / Prince of Peace.
9:7 To the increase of His government / And to His peace there is no end, / Upon the throne of David / And over His kingdom, / To establish it / And to uphold it / In justice and righteousness / From now to eternity. / The zeal of Jehovah of hosts / Will accomplish this.
9:8 The Lord sends out a word against Jacob, / And it descends upon Israel.
9:9 And all the people know it, / Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, / Saying in pride and haughtiness of heart,
9:10 The bricks have fallen, but we will build with cut stone; / The sycamores have been felled, but we will put cedars in their place.
9:11 Then Jehovah exalts the adversaries of Rezin against them / And goads their enemies on.
9:12 Aram from the east and the Philistines from the west: / They devour Israel with an open mouth. / By all this His anger is not turned; / His hand is still outstretched.
9:13 Yet the people do not turn to Him who strikes them, / Nor do they seek Jehovah of hosts.
9:14 Then Jehovah cuts off from Israel head and tail, / Palm branch and marsh reed in one day.
9:15 The elder and the highly regarded ? he is the head; / The prophet and the teacher of falsehood ? he is the tail.
9:16 And those who lead this people are those who mislead them; / And those who are led are those who are confused.
9:17 Because of this the Lord will not rejoice in their young men, / And He will not have compassion on their orphans and widows; / For all of them are profane and evildoers, / And every mouth speaks foolishness. / By all this His anger is not turned; / His hand is still outstretched.
9:18 For wickedness burns like a fire; / It devours thorn and thistle, / And burns in the forest thickets; / And they roll up into a column of smoke.
9:19 At the overflowing wrath of Jehovah of hosts a land is burned up, / And the people are like fuel for fire; / No one spares even his brother.
9:20 One carves on the right side, but is hungry; / And another eats on the left side, but is not satisfied. / Each eats the flesh of his own arm:
9:21 Manasseh, Ephraim, and Ephraim, Manasseh; / These together against Judah. / By all this His anger is not turned; / His hand is still outstretched.