New Living Translation
Isaiah • Chapter 9
1
Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory.
2
The people who walk in darkness<br>will see a great light.<br>For those who live in a land of deep darkness,<br>a light will shine.<br>
3
You will enlarge the nation of Israel,<br>and its people will rejoice.<br>They will rejoice before you<br>as people rejoice at the harvest<br>and like warriors dividing the plunder.<br>
4
For you will break the yoke of their slavery<br>and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders.<br>You will break the oppressor’s rod,<br>just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian.<br>
5
The boots of the warrior<br>and the uniforms bloodstained by war<br>will all be burned.<br>They will be fuel for the fire.<br>
6
For a child is born to us,<br>a son is given to us.<br>The government will rest on his shoulders.<br>And he will be called:<br>Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God (Elohim),<br>Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.<br>
7
His government and its peace<br>will never end.<br>He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David<br>for all eternity.<br>The passionate commitment of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies<br>will make this happen!<br>
8
The Lord has spoken out against Jacob;<br>his judgment has fallen upon Israel.<br>
9
And the people of Israel and Samaria,<br>who spoke with such pride and arrogance,<br>will soon know it.<br>
10
They said, “We will replace the broken bricks of our ruins with finished stone,<br>and replant the felled sycamore-fig trees with cedars.”<br>
11
But the LORD will bring Rezin’s enemies against Israel<br>and stir up all their foes.<br>
12
The Syrians from the east and the Philistines from the west<br>will bare their fangs and devour Israel.<br>But even then the LORD’s anger will not be satisfied.<br>His fist is still poised to strike.<br>
13
For after all this punishment, the people will still not repent.<br>They will not seek the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.<br>
14
Therefore, in a single day the LORD will destroy both the head and the tail,<br>the noble palm branch and the lowly reed.<br>
15
The leaders of Israel are the head,<br>and the lying prophets are the tail.<br>
16
For the leaders of the people have misled them.<br>They have led them down the path of destruction.<br>
17
That is why the Lord takes no pleasure in the young men<br>and shows no mercy even to the widows and orphans.<br>For they are all wicked hypocrites,<br>and they all speak foolishness.<br>But even then the LORD’s anger will not be satisfied.<br>His fist is still poised to strike.<br>
18
This wickedness is like a brushfire.<br>It burns not only briers and thorns<br>but also sets the forests ablaze.<br>Its burning sends up clouds of smoke.<br>
19
The land will be blackened<br>by the fury of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.<br>The people will be fuel for the fire,<br>and no one will spare even his own brother.<br>
20
They will attack their neighbor on the right<br>but will still be hungry.<br>They will devour their neighbor on the left<br>but will not be satisfied.<br>In the end they will even eat their own children.<br>
21
Manasseh will feed on Ephraim,<br>Ephraim will feed on Manasseh,<br>and both will devour Judah.<br>But even then the LORD’s anger will not be satisfied.<br>His fist is still poised to strike.<br>