Isaiah 9

1 “The person in distress will not stay distressed forever. Do this first. Act quickly, land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, the road by the sea, the rest who live along the coast and beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations, the regions of Judah.”

2 “People walking in darkness, see a great light. A light will shine on those living in the land and shadow of death.”

3 “You brought down the people’s multitude in your joy. They will rejoice before you like people rejoicing at harvest or dividing plunder.”

4 “The yoke laid on them and the rod on their neck have been removed, because he broke the oppressors’ rod as in Midian’s day.”

5 “They will repay every garment acquired by deceit and all clothing through restitution, and they will wish they had been burned with fire.”

6 “A child has been born for us, and a son has been given to us. Authority rests on his shoulder, and his name is called Messenger of Great Counsel, for I will bring peace on the rulers, peace and health to him.”

7 “His rule will be great, and his peace will have no end. He will sit on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and supporting it with righteousness and judgment from now on and forever. The zeal of the Lord of armies will do this.”

8 “The Lord sent death on Jacob, and it came on Israel.”

9 “All Ephraim and Samaria’s residents will know—those who say in pride and arrogance,”

10 “‘The bricks have fallen, but let us cut stone, fell sycamores and cedars, and build ourselves a tower.’”

11 “God will strike down those who rise against Mount Zion and scatter their enemies:”

12 “Syria from the sunrise and the Greeks from the sunset, who devour Israel with an open mouth. Despite all this, his anger has not turned away. His hand is still raised.”

13 “The people did not turn back until they were struck, and they did not seek the Lord.”

14 “So the Lord removed Israel’s head and tail, great and small, in one day.”

15 “The elder and those who show favoritism are the head. The prophet who teaches lawless things is the tail.”

16 “Those who call this people blessed mislead them and lead them away to be devoured.”

17 “Therefore God will not delight in their young men or pity their fatherless and widows, because all are lawbreakers and evil, and every mouth speaks wrongdoing. Even after all this his anger did not turn away, and his hand is still raised.”

18 “Wrongdoing will burn like fire and consume dry grass. It will burn through the forest thickets and devour everything around the hills.”

19 “The whole earth is set on fire by the Lord’s fierce anger, and the people are like those burned by fire. No one will pity his brother.”

20 “One turns right because he is hungry, then eats on the left but is still not satisfied. Each devours the flesh of his own arm.”

21 “Manasseh will devour Ephraim’s flesh, and Ephraim Manasseh’s. Together they will besiege Judah. Despite all this, his anger has not turned away. His hand is still raised.”