1 ¶ Nevertheless this darkness shall not be the same as the affliction that came upon her when they lightly touched the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, nor afterward when they more grievously afflicted her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the Gentiles.

But there shall be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time He will make it glorious, by the way of the Sea beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

2 T he people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; those that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has the light shined.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great Light; those who dwelt in the land of intense darkness and the shadow of death, upon them has the Light shined.

3 A s thou hast multiplied the nation, thou hast not increased the joy. They shall rejoice before thee as they rejoice in the harvest and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

You have multiplied the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before You like the joy in harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

4 F or thou hast broken his heavy yoke and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.

For the yoke of burden, and the staff or rod for their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, You have broken as in the day of Midian.

5 F or every battle of him who fights is with shaking of the earth and the rolling of garments in blood; but this shall be with burning and consuming of fire.

For every warrior’s war boots and all his armor in the battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire.

6 F or unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government is placed upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called The Wonderful One, The Counsellor, The God, The Mighty One, The Eternal Father, The Prince of Peace.

For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 T he multitude of his dominion and the peace shall have no end upon the throne of David and upon his Kingdom, ordering it and confirming it in judgment and in righteousness from now on even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of the hosts will perform this.

Of the increase of His government and of peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from the time forth, even forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

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

The Lord has sent a word against Jacob, and it has lighted upon Israel.

9 A nd all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in pride and arrogance of heart,

And all the people shall know it—even Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria —who said in pride and stoutness of heart,

10 T he bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones; the wild fig trees are cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.

The bricks have fallen, but we will build with hewn stones; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.

11 T herefore the LORD shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him and join his enemies together,

Therefore the Lord has stirred up the adversaries of Rezin against, and He will stir up their enemies and arm and join them together,

12 t he 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.

The Syrians before and the Philistines behind; and they will devour Israel with open mouth. For all this, anger is not turned away, but His hand is still stretched out.

13 B ut the people did not turn unto him that smote them, neither did they seek the LORD of the hosts.

Yet the people turn not to Him Who smote them, neither do they seek the Lord of hosts.

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

Therefore the Lord will cut off from Israel head and tail — palm branch and rush in one day;

15 T he ancient and venerable to look upon is the head; the prophet that teaches lies, he is the tail.

The elderly and honored man, he is the head; and the prophet who teaches lies, he is the tail.

16 F or the governors of this people are deceivers, and those who are governed by them are lost.

For they who lead this people cause them to err, and they who are led by them are swallowed up (destroyed).

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

Therefore the Lord will not rejoice over their young men, neither will He have compassion on their fatherless and widows, for everyone is profane and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this, anger is not turned away, but His hand is still stretched out.

18 F or wickedness burns 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.

For wickedness burns like a fire; it devours the briers and thorns, and it kindles in the thickets of the forest; they roll upward in a column of smoke.

19 T hrough the wrath of the LORD of the hosts the land is darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire; no man shall spare his brother.

Through the wrath of the Lord of hosts the land is darkened and burned up, and the people are like fuel for the fire; no man spares his brother.

20 A nd 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 each man the flesh of his own arm:

They snatch in discord on the right hand, but are still hungry; and they devour and destroy on the left hand, but are not satisfied. Each devours and destroys his own flesh or his neighbor’s.

21 M anasseh, 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.

Manasseh Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh; but together they are against Judah. For all this, anger is not turned away, but His hand is still stretched out.