But there will be no more gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt; but in the latter time he will make glorious the Way of the Sea, the other side of the Jordan, and Galilee of the nations.
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light. Those living in the land of the shadow of death, on them the light has shined.
You have enlarged the nation. You have increased their joy. They rejoice before you as with the joy in harvest, as men rejoice when they are dividing up the spoil.
For the yoke of their burden and the staff of their shoulder, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as in the day of Midian.
For every boot of the tramping warrior in the noisy battle, and the garments rolled in blood, will be for burning; will be fuel for the fire.
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will call his name Wonderful Counselor, Mighty Hero, Father of the Coming Age, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of authority and of peace there will be no end; upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to sustain it with justice and with righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of Yahweh of Armies will do this.
Judgment on Arrogance and Oppression
The Lord sent a word against Jacob, and it falls on Israel.
All the people will know, including Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, who say in pride and in arrogance of heart,
“The bricks have fallen, but we will build with cut stone. The sycamore fig trees have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.”
Therefore Yahweh will set up on high against him the adversaries of Rezin, and will stir up his enemies,
the Syrians in front and the Philistines behind; and they will devour Israel with open mouth. For all this, his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
Yet the people have not turned to him who struck them, nor have they sought Yahweh of Armies.
Therefore Yahweh will cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed, in one day.
The elder and the honorable man is the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail.
For those who lead this people lead them astray, and those who are led by them are destroyed.
Therefore the Lord will not rejoice over their young men, nor will he have compassion on their fatherless and widows, for everyone is profane and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
For wickedness burns like a fire. It devours the briars and thorns, yes, it kindles in the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column of smoke.
Through the wrath of Yahweh of Armies, the land is burned up, and the people are the fuel for the fire. No one spares his brother.
One will devour on the right hand and be hungry; and he will eat on the left hand, and they will not be satisfied. Everyone will eat the flesh of his own arm:
Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh; and they together will be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.