1
Nevertheless the dimness[H4155] shall not be such as was in her vexation[H4164], when[H6256] at the first[H7223] he lightly afflicted[H7043] the land[H776] of Zebulun[H2074] and the land[H776] of Naphtali[H5321], and afterward[H314] did more grievously afflict[H3513] her by the way[H1870] of the sea[H3220], beyond[H5676]Jordan[H3383], in Galilee[H1551] of the nations[H1471].
2
The people[H5971] that walked[H1980] in darkness[H2822] have seen[H7200] a great[H1419]light[H216]: they that dwell[H3427] in the land[H776] of the shadow of death[H6757], upon them hath the light[H216]shined[H5050].
3
Thou hast multiplied[H7235] the nation[H1471], and not increased[H1431] the joy[H8057]: they joy[H8055]before[H6440] thee according to the joy[H8055] in harvest[H7105], and as men rejoice[H1523] when they divide[H2505] the spoil[H7998].
4
For thou hast broken[H2865] the yoke[H5923] of his burden[H5448], and the staff[H4294] of his shoulder[H7926], the rod[H7626] of his oppressor[H5065], as in the day[H3117] of Midian[H4080].
5
For every battle[H5430] of the warrior[H5431] is with confused noise[H7494], and garments[H8071]rolled[H1556] in blood[H1818]; but this shall be with burning[H8316] and fuel[H3980] of fire[H784].
6
For unto us a child[H3206] is born[H3205], unto us a son[H1121] is given[H5414]: and the government[H4951] shall be upon his shoulder[H7926]: and his name[H8034] shall be called[H7121]Wonderful[H6382], Counsellor[H3289], The mighty[H1368]God[H410], The everlasting[H5703]Father[H1], The Prince[H8269] of Peace[H7965].
7
Of the increase[H4766] of his government[H4951] and peace[H7965] there shall be no end[H7093], upon the throne[H3678] of David[H1732], and upon his kingdom[H4467], to order[H3559] it, and to establish[H5582] it with judgment[H4941] and with justice[H6666] from henceforth even for[H5704]ever[H5769]. The zeal[H7068] of the LORD[H3068] of hosts[H6635] will perform[H6213] this.
8
The Lord[H136]sent[H7971] a word[H1697] into Jacob[H3290], and it hath lighted[H5307] upon Israel[H3478].
9
And all the people[H5971] shall know[H3045], even Ephraim[H669] and the inhabitant[H3427] of Samaria[H8111], that say[H559] in the pride[H1346] and stoutness[H1433] of heart[H3824],
10
The bricks[H3843] are fallen down[H5307], but we will build[H1129] with hewn stones[H1496]: the sycomores[H8256] are cut down[H1438], but we will change[H2498] them into cedars[H730].
11
Therefore the LORD[H3068] shall set up[H7682] the adversaries[H6862] of Rezin[H7526] against him, and join[H5526] his enemies[H341]together[H5526];
12
The Syrians[H758]before[H6924], and the Philistines[H6430]behind[H268]; and they shall devour[H398]Israel[H3478] with open mouth[H6310]. For all this his anger[H639] is not turned away[H7725], but his hand[H3027] is stretched out still[H5186].
13
For the people[H5971]turneth[H7725] not unto him that smiteth[H5221] them, neither do they seek[H1875] the LORD[H3068] of hosts[H6635].
14
Therefore the LORD[H3068] will cut off[H3772] from Israel[H3478]head[H7218] and tail[H2180], branch[H3712] and rush[H100], in one[H259]day[H3117].
15
The ancient[H2205] and honourable[H6440], he[H1931] is the head[H7218]; and the prophet[H5030] that teacheth[H3384]lies[H8267], he[H1931] is the tail[H2180].
16
For the leaders[H833] of this people[H5971] cause them to err[H8582]; and they that are led[H833] of them are destroyed[H1104].
17
Therefore the Lord[H136] shall have no joy[H8055] in their young men[H970], neither shall have mercy[H7355] on their fatherless[H3490] and widows[H490]: for every one is an hypocrite[H2611] and an evildoer[H7489], and every mouth[H6310]speaketh[H1696]folly[H5039]. For all this his anger[H639] is not turned away[H7725], but his hand[H3027] is stretched out still[H5186].
18
For wickedness[H7564]burneth[H1197] as the fire[H784]: it shall devour[H398] the briers[H8068] and thorns[H7898], and shall kindle[H3341] in the thickets[H5442] of the forest[H3293], and they shall mount up[H55] like the lifting up[H1348] of smoke[H6227].
19
Through the wrath[H5678] of the LORD[H3068] of hosts[H6635] is the land[H776]darkened[H6272], and the people[H5971] shall be as the fuel[H3980] of the fire[H784]: no man[H376] shall spare[H2550] his brother[H251].
20
And he shall snatch[H1504] on the right hand[H3225], and be hungry[H7457]; and he shall eat[H398] on the left hand[H8040], and they shall not be satisfied[H7646]: they shall eat[H398] every man[H376] the flesh[H1320] of his own arm[H2220]:
21Manasseh[H4519], Ephraim[H669]; and Ephraim[H669], Manasseh[H4519]: and they together[H3162] shall be against Judah[H3063]. For all this his anger[H639] is not turned away[H7725], but his hand[H3027] is stretched out still[H5186].