Isaiah 9

1But there shall be no gloom to her that 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 hath he made it glorious, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

1But the time of darkness and despair will not last forever. In the past, God let the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali be humbled, but in the future, he will bring honor to this region—from the Mediterranean Sea to the land across the Jordan River, and even Galilee where the Gentiles live.

2The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

2The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. On those living in a land as dark as death, a light has shined.

3Thou hast multiplied the nation, thou hast increased their joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

3You have made the nation grow and increased their joy. They rejoice before you like people celebrating a harvest, or like soldiers happy to divide the riches they won in battle.

4For the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, thou hast broken as in the day of Midian.

4For you have broken the heavy yoke that weighed them down and the bar across their shoulders. You have broken the rod of those who oppressed them, just as you defeated Midian long ago.

5For all the armor of the armed man in the tumult, and the garments rolled in blood, shall be for burning, for fuel of fire.

5Every boot of the marching warrior used in battle and every uniform soaked in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.

6For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

6For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. He will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of Jehovah of hosts will perform this.

7His government and its peace will never stop growing. He will rule on the throne of David and over his kingdom, making it strong and holding it up with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The intense devotion of the LORD of Armies will make this happen.

8The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.

8The Lord sent a message against the descendants of Jacob, and it has fallen on Israel.

9And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in pride and in stoutness of heart,

9All the people will know it—Ephraim and the people of Samaria. In their pride and arrogance they say,

10The bricks are fallen, but we will build with hewn stone; the sycomores are cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.

10'The brick walls have fallen down, but we will rebuild them with high-quality stone. The sycamore trees have been cut down, but we will replace them with expensive cedars.'

11Therefore Jehovah will set up on high against him the adversaries of Rezin, and will stir up his enemies,

11So the LORD will bring the enemies of Rezin against them and stir up their foes.

12the 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.

12The Syrians from the east and the Philistines from the west will swallow Israel up in one bite. Even after all this, God’s anger has not turned away; his hand is still raised to strike.

13Yet the people have not turned unto him that smote them, neither have they sought Jehovah of hosts.

13But the people did not return to the one who punished them; they did not seek the LORD of Armies.

14Therefore Jehovah will cut off from Israel head and tail, palm-branch and rush, in one day.

14Therefore, in a single day, the LORD will cut off from Israel both the head and the tail, both the palm branch and the reed.

15The elder and the honorable man, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.

15The leaders and the respected men are the head, and the prophets who teach lies are the tail.

16For they that lead this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.

16The people leading this nation have led them astray, and those who follow them are being destroyed.

17Therefore the Lord will not rejoice over their young men, neither will he have compassion on their fatherless and widows; for every one is profane 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.

17That is why the Lord takes no pleasure in their young men and has no mercy on their orphans and widows. Everyone is godless and wicked; every mouth speaks foolishness. Even after all this, his anger has not turned away; his hand is still raised to strike.

18For wickedness burneth as the fire; it devoureth the briers and thorns; yea, it kindleth in the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column of smoke.

18Their wickedness burns like a fire. It consumes briers and thorns; it sets the forest thickets on fire, and they go up in clouds of smoke.

19Through the wrath of Jehovah of hosts is the land burnt up; and the people are as the fuel of fire: no man spareth his brother.

19Because of the wrath of the LORD of Armies, the land is scorched, and the people are like fuel for the fire. No one even tries to save his own brother.

20And 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:

20They grab food on the right but are still hungry; they eat on the left but are not satisfied. Each person even devours the flesh of his own offspring.

21Manasseh, 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.

21Manasseh fights against Ephraim, and Ephraim against Manasseh, and together they turn against Judah. Even after all this, God’s anger has not turned away; his hand is still raised to strike.