Isaiah 9

1Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.footnote a

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

3Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.footnote b

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

5For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.footnote dfootnote efootnote f

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, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

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

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

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

10The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.

11Therefore the LORD shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together;footnote g

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.footnote h

13For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts.

14Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day.

15The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.

16For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.footnote ifootnote jfootnote k

17Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.footnote l

18For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke.

19Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother.footnote m

20And he 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:footnote n

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.

Unto Us a Child Is Born

1Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those in distress. In the past He humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future He will honor the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations:

2The people walking in darknesshave seen a great light;on those living in the land of the shadow of death,a light has dawned.footnote a 3You have enlarged the nationand increased its joy.The people rejoice before Youas they rejoice at harvest time,as men rejoice in dividing the plunder.

4For as in the day of MidianYou have shattered the yoke of their burden,the bar across their shoulders,and the rod of their oppressor. 5For every trampling boot of battleand every garment rolled in bloodwill be burned as fuel for the fire.

6For unto us a child is born,unto us a son is given,and the government will be upon His shoulders.And He will be calledWonderful Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7Of the increase of His government and peacethere will be no end.He will reign on the throne of Davidand over his kingdom,to establish and sustain itwith justice and righteousnessfrom that time and forevermore.The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.

Judgment against Israel’s Pride

8The Lord has sent a message against Jacob,and it has fallen upon Israel. 9All the people will know it—Ephraimfootnote band the dwellers of Samaria.With pride and arrogance of heartthey will say: 10“The bricks have fallen,but we will rebuild with finished stone;the sycamores have been felled,but we will replace them with cedars.”

11The LORD has raised up the foes of Rezin against himand joined his enemies together. 12Aramfootnote cfrom the east and Philistia from the westhave devoured Israel with open mouths.Despite all this, His anger is not turned away;His hand is still upraised.

Judgment against Israel’s Hypocrisy

13But the people did not return to Him who struck them;they did not seek the LORD of Hosts. 14So the LORD will cut off Israel’s head and tail,both palm branch and reed in a single day. 15The head is the elder and honorable man,and the tail is the prophet who teaches lies. 16For those who guide this people mislead them,and those they mislead are swallowed up.

17Therefore the Lord takes no pleasure in their young men;He has no compassion on their fatherless and widows.For every one of them is godless and wicked,and every mouth speaks folly.Despite all this, His anger is not turned away;His hand is still upraised.

Judgment against Israel’s Unrepentance

18For wickedness burns like a firethat consumes the thorns and briersand kindles the forest thickets,which roll upward in billows of smoke. 19By the wrath of the LORD of Hoststhe land is scorched,and the people are fuel for the fire.No man even spares his brother.

20They carve out what is on the right,but they are still hungry;they eat what is on the left,but they are still not satisfied.Each one devours the flesh of his own offspring.footnote d 21Manasseh devours Ephraim,and Ephraim Manasseh;together they turn against Judah.Despite all this, His anger is not turned away;His hand is still upraised.