Isaiah 9

¹ The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; on the inhabitants of a country in shadowdark as death light has blazed forth.

² You have enlarged the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice atharvest time, as they exult when they are dividing the spoils.

³ For the yoke that weighed on it, the bar across its shoulders, the rod of its oppressor, these you havebroken as on the day of Midian.

⁴ For al the footgear clanking over the ground and al the clothing rolled in blood, wil be burnt, wil be foodfor the flames.

⁵ For a son has been born for us, a son has been given to us, and dominion has been laid on hisshoulders; and this is the name he has been given, 'Wonder-Counsel or, Mighty-God, Eternal-Father, Prince-of-Peace'

⁶ to extend his dominion in boundless peace, over the throne of David and over his kingdom to make itsecure and sustain it in fair judgement and integrity. From this time onwards and for ever, the jealous love ofYahweh Sabaoth wil do this.

⁷ The Lord has launched a word at Jacob and it has fal en on Israel;

⁸ and the people will al soon know it, Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, who say in the pride of theirarrogant hearts,

⁹ 'The bricks have fal en down but we shal rebuild with dressed stone; the sycamores have been fel edbut we shal replace them with cedars.'

¹⁰ But, against them, Yahweh has raised their foe Razon, he has whipped up their enemies,

¹¹ Aram to the east, Philistines to the west, to devour Israel with gaping jaws. After al this, his anger is notspent. No, his hand is still raised!

¹² But the people would not come back to him who struck them, they would not seek out YahwehSabaoth;

¹³ hence Yahweh has topped and tailed Israel, cutting off palm and reed in a single day.

¹⁴ (The 'top' is the elder and the man of rank; the 'tail' is the prophet teaching lies.)

¹⁵ This people's leaders have led them astray, and those who are led by them are swal owed up.

¹⁶ Hence the Lord wil no longer take delight in their young people, or pity on their orphans and widows,since al of them are godless and evil, and everything they say is madness. After al this, his anger is not spent.No, his hand is still raised!

¹⁷ Yes, wickedness has been burning like a fire, devouring bramble and thorn-bush, setting the forestthickets ablaze -- up they go in bil owing smoke!

¹⁸ The country has been set on fire by the fury of Yahweh Sabaoth, and the people are like food for theflames. No one spares a thought for his brother.

¹⁹ They have sliced to the right and are stil hungry, they have eaten to the left and are not satisfied; eachdevours the flesh of his own arm.

²⁰ Manasseh devours Ephraim, Ephraim Manasseh, together they turn against Judah. After al this, hisanger is not spent. No, his hand is still raised!