Isaiah 9

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
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.	1 In the earlier time, the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali were lifted up. But in the later time, the way of the sea beyond the Jordan, the Galilee of the Gentiles, was weighed down.
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.	2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. A light has risen for the inhabitants of the region of the shadow of death.
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.	3 You have increased the nation, but you have not increased the rejoicing. They will rejoice before you, like those who rejoice at the harvest, like the victorious exulting after capturing the prey, when they divide the spoils.
4 For al the footgear clanking over the ground and al the clothing rolled in blood, wil be burnt, wil be foodfor the flames.	4 For you have prevailed over the yoke of their burden, and over the rod of their shoulder, and over the scepter of their oppressor, as in the day of Midian.
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'	5 For every violent plunder with a tumult, and every garment mixed with blood, will be burned up and will become fuel for the fire.
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.	6 For unto us a child is born, and unto us a son is given. And leadership is placed upon his shoulder. And his name shall be called: wonderful Counselor, mighty God, father of the future age, Prince of Peace.
7 The Lord has launched a word at Jacob and it has fal en on Israel;	7 His reign will be increased, and there will be no end to his peace. He will sit upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, to confirm and strengthen it, in judgment and justice, from now even unto eternity. The zeal of the Lord of hosts shall accomplish this.
8 and the people will al soon know it, Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, who say in the pride of theirarrogant hearts,	8 The Lord sent a word to Jacob, and it fell upon Israel.
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.'	9 And all the people of Ephraim will know it. And the inhabitants of Samaria will say it, in the arrogance and haughtiness of their heart:
10 But, against them, Yahweh has raised their foe Razon, he has whipped up their enemies,	10 “The bricks have fallen, but we will build with squared stones. They have cut down the sycamores, but we will replace them with cedars.”
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!	11 And the Lord will raise up the enemies of Rezin over him, and he will turn his adversaries into a tumult:
12 But the people would not come back to him who struck them, they would not seek out YahwehSabaoth;	12 the Syrians from the east and the Philistines from the west. And they will devour Israel with their whole mouth. After all this, his fury was not turned away; instead, his hand was still extended.
13 hence Yahweh has topped and tailed Israel, cutting off palm and reed in a single day.	13 And the people did not return to the One who struck them, and they did not seek the Lord of hosts.
14 (The 'top' is the elder and the man of rank; the 'tail' is the prophet teaching lies.)	14 And so, the Lord will disperse, away from Israel, the head and the tail, he who bows down and he who refrains, in one day.
15 This people's leaders have led them astray, and those who are led by them are swal owed up.	15 The long-lived and honorable, he is the head; and the prophet who teaches lies, he is the tail.
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!	16 And those who deceitfully praise this people, and those who are praised, will be thrown down violently.
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!	17 For this reason, the Lord will not rejoice over their youths. And he will not take pity on their orphans and widows. For each one is a hypocrite, and each one is wicked, and every mouth has spoken foolishness. After all this, his fury was not turned away; instead, his hand was still extended.
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.	18 For impiety has been kindled like a fire: it will devour brier and thorn, and it will burn in the dense forest, and it will be interwoven with the ascending smoke.
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.	19 The earth has been shaken by the wrath of the Lord of hosts, and the people will become like fuel for the fire. A man will not spare his own brother.
20 Manasseh devours Ephraim, Ephraim Manasseh, together they turn against Judah. After al this, hisanger is not spent. No, his hand is still raised!	20 And he will turn toward the right, and he will be hungry. And he will eat toward the left, and he will not be satisfied. Each one will eat the flesh of his own arm: Manasseh Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh, and together they will be against Judah.
	21 After all this, his fury was not turned away; instead, his hand was still extended.