1 B ut there shall be no more gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time, he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the latter time he has made it glorious, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

But there will be no more heavy hearts for those who were suffering. In the past God allowed the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali to be put to shame. In the future He will honor Galilee where those who are not Jews live and where the road to the sea is. It is on the other side of the Jordan.

2 T he people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Those who lived in the land of the shadow of death, on them the light has shined.

The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. The light will shine on those living in the land of dark shadows.

3 Y ou have multiplied the nation. You have increased their joy. They rejoice before you according to the joy in harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the plunder.

You will make the nation great. You will give them great joy. They will be glad before You, as with the joy of gathering time, and as men have joy when they divide the riches taken after a battle.

4 F or the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as in the day of Midian.

For You will break the heavy load from their neck and shoulders. You will break the power of those who made it hard for them, as at the battle of Midian.

5 F or all the armor of the armed man in the noisy battle, and the garments rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire.

For every shoe of the soldiers in the battle, and every coat rolled in blood, will be burned in the fire.

6 F or to us a child is born. To us a son is given; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

For to us a Child will be born. To us a Son will be given. And the rule of the nations will be on His shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful, Teacher, Powerful God, Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace.

7 O f the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, on David’s throne, and on his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from that time on, even forever. The zeal of Yahweh of Armies will perform this.

There will be no end to His rule and His peace, upon the throne of David and over his nation. He will build it to last and keep it strong with what is right and fair and good from that time and forever. The work of the Lord of All will do this. Punishment against Israel

8 T he Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it falls on Israel.

The Lord sends word against Jacob, and it falls on Israel.

9 A ll the people will know, including Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, who say in pride and in arrogance of heart,

And all the people will know it, that is, Ephraim and the people of Samaria. They say with a proud spirit in their hearts,

10 “ The bricks have fallen, but we will build with cut stone. The sycamore fig trees have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.”

“The clay blocks have fallen down, but we will build again with smooth stones. The sycamore trees have been cut down, but we will put cedar trees in their place.”

11 T herefore Yahweh will set up on high against him the adversaries of Rezin, and will stir up his enemies,

So the Lord brings men from Rezin to fight against them. He makes those who hate them move to action.

12 T he Syrians in front, and the Philistines behind; and they will devour Israel with open mouth. For all this, his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

The Syrians on the east and the Philistines on the west swallow Israel with an open mouth. Even with this, the Lord’s anger does not turn away. His hand is still held out.

13 Y et the people have not turned to him who struck them, neither have they sought Yahweh of Armies.

Yet the people do not return to Him Who punished them. They do not look to the Lord of All.

14 T herefore Yahweh will cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed, in one day.

So the Lord will cut off the head and tail from Israel, both palm branch and river-grass in one day.

15 T he elder and the honorable man is the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail.

The leaders and men of honor are the head, and the tail is the false preachers who teach lies.

16 F or those who lead this people lead them astray; and those who are led by them are destroyed.

For those who lead these people are leading them from the right way, and those who are led by them are going the wrong way.

17 T herefore 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 his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

So the Lord is not pleased with their young men. He does not have pity on their children who have no parents or on their women whose husbands have died. Every one of them is without God and does sinful things. Every mouth speaks foolish words. Even with all this, His anger does not turn away. His hand is still held out.

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

For sin burns like a fire. It burns thistles and thorns. It sets the woods on fire, and they go up in smoke.

19 T hrough Yahweh of Armies’ wrath, the land is burnt up; and the people are the fuel for the fire. No one spares his brother.

The land is burned up by the anger of the Lord, and the people are like wood for the fire. No man shows pity on his brother.

20 O ne will devour on the right hand, and be hungry; and he will eat on the left hand, and they will not be satisfied. Everyone will eat the flesh of his own arm:

They take what is on the right hand but still are hungry. They eat what is in the left hand but are not filled. Each of them eats the flesh of his own children.

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 goes against Ephraim, and Ephraim goes against Manasseh. And together they are against Judah. Even with all this, the Lord’s anger does not turn away. His hand is still held out.