[1] But there shall be no gloom to 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 has he made it glorious, by 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 lived in the land of the shadow
of death, on them has the light shined. [3] You have multiplied the nation,
you have increased their joy: they joy before you according to the joy in
harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. [4] For the yoke of his
burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have
broken as in the day of Midian. [5] For all the armor of the armed man in
the tumult, and the garments rolled in blood, shall be for burning, for
fuel of fire. [6] For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the
government shall be on his shoulder: and 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 on his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness from henceforth even forever. The zeal
of Yahweh of Hosts will perform this. [8] The Lord sent a word into Jacob,
and it has lighted on Israel. [9] All the people shall know, [even] Ephraim
and the inhabitant of Samaria, who say in pride and in arrogance of heart,
[10] The bricks are fallen, but we will build with hewn stone; the
sycamores are cut down, but we will put cedars in their place. [11]
Therefore Yahweh will set up on high against him the adversaries of Rezin,
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. [13] Yet the
people have not turned to him who struck them, neither have they sought
Yahweh of Hosts. [14] Therefore Yahweh will cut off from Israel head and
tail, palm-branch and rush, in one day. [15] The elder and the honorable
man, he is the head; and the prophet who teaches lies, he is the tail. [16]
For those who lead this people cause them to err; and those who are led of
them are destroyed. [17] Therefore the Lord will not rejoice over their
young men, neither will he have compassion on their fatherless and widows;
for everyone is profane and an evil-doer, and every mouth speaks folly. For
all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
[18] For wickedness burns as the fire; it devours the briers and thorns;
yes, it kindles in the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a
column of smoke. [19] Through the wrath of Yahweh of hosts is the land
burnt up; and the people are as the fuel of fire: no man spares his
brother. [20] One 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: [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.
