1 Nevertheless the gloom shall not be upon her who was in distress, as in the former time when He brought contempt upon the land of Zebulun, and the land of Naphtali. For afterwards He will glorify the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them the light has shined.
3 You have multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy. They rejoice before You according to the joy at harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoils.
4 For You have broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his taskmaster, as in the day of Midian.
5 For every trembling boot of the warrior, and the garments rolled in blood, shall be fuel for burning in the fire.
6 For 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, Counselor, The Strong and Mighty God, The Eternal Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace upon the throne of David there will be no end; and upon His kingdom, to order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice from now on, even forever. The zeal of Jehovah of Hosts will accomplish this.
8 The Lord sent a Word to Jacob, and it has fallen upon Israel.
9 And all the people shall know; Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, who say in pride and insolence of heart,
10 The bricks have fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones; the sycamores are cut down, but we will use cedars instead.
11 Therefore Jehovah shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and spur his enemies on;
12 the Syrians in front 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.
13 For the people do not turn to Him who strikes them, nor do they seek Jehovah of Hosts.
14 Therefore Jehovah will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and bulrush, in one day.
15 The elder and honorable, he is the head; and the prophet who teaches lies, he is the tail.
16 For the leaders of this people lead them astray; and those who are led by them are swallowed up.
17 Therefore the Lord shall not rejoice over their young men, nor shall He have mercy on their orphans and widows; for everyone is a hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks foolishness. In all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still.
18 For wickedness burns like the fire; it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall billow up in a column of smoke.
19 Through the wrath of Jehovah of Hosts the land is scorched, and the people shall be as fuel for the fire; no man shall have compassion on his brother.
20 And he shall cut off on the right hand and be hungry; and he shall devour on the left, and they shall not be satisfied. Each man shall eat the flesh of his own arm;
21 Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh; and together they shall be against Judah. In all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still.