1Nevertheless, there will be no moregloomfor thosein distress. In the pastHe humbledthe landof Zebulunand the landof Naphtali, but in the futureHe will honorthe Wayof the Sea, beyondthe Jordan, Galileeof the nations:
2The peoplewalkingin darkness
have seena greatlight;
onthose livingin the landof the shadow of death,
a lighthas dawned.a
3You have enlargedthe nation
and increasedits joy.
The people rejoicebefore You
as they rejoiceat harvest time,
asmen rejoicein dividingthe plunder.
4Foras in the dayof Midian
You have shatteredthe yokeof their burden,
the bar acrosstheir shoulders,
and the rodof their oppressor.
5Foreverytramplingbootof battle
and every garmentrolledin blood
will beburnedas fuelfor the fire.
6For unto us a childis born,
unto us a sonis given,
and the governmentwill beuponHis shoulders.
And He will be called
WonderfulCounselor, MightyGod,
Everlasting Father, Princeof Peace.
7Of the increaseof His governmentand peace
there will be noend.
He will reign onthe throneof David
and overhis kingdom,
to establishand sustain it
with justiceand righteousness
from that timeand forevermore.
The zealof the LORDof Hostswill accomplishthis.
Judgment against Israel’s Pride
8The Lordhas senta messageagainst Jacob,
and it has fallenupon Israel.
9Allthe peoplewill know it —
Ephraimband the dwellersof Samaria.
With prideand arroganceof heart
they will say:
10
“The brickshave fallen,
but we will rebuildwith finished stone;
the sycamoreshave been felled,
but we will replace themwith cedars.”
11The LORDhas raised upthe foesof Rezinagainst him
and joinedhis enemies together.
12Aramcfrom the eastand Philistiafrom the west
have devouredIsraelwith openmouths.
Despite allthis, His angeris notturned away;
His handis stillupraised.
Judgment against Israel’s Hypocrisy
13But the peopledid notreturntoHim who struck them;
they did notseekthe LORDof Hosts.
14So the LORDwill cut offIsrael’sheadand tail,
both palm branchand reedin a singleday.
15The headis the elderand honorableman,
and the tailis the prophetwho teacheslies.
16Forthose who guidethis peoplemislead them,
and those they misleadare swallowed up.
17Thereforethe Lordtakes nopleasureintheir young men;