1But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought contempt on the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will bring honor to the way of the sea, the region beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2The people walking in the darkness have seen a great light; on those dwelling in a land of deep shadow, light has dawned upon them.
3You have multiplied the nation; you have made great its joy. They rejoice before you as with the joy at harvest, as men exult when they divide plunder.
4For the yoke of his burden and the bar across his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have shattered as on the day of Midian.
5For every boot tramping in the tumult and every cloak rolled in blood will be for burning, fuel for fire.
6For a child has been born to us, a son has been given to us, and the government is upon his shoulder; and his name is called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7Of the increase of the government and of peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to sustain it with justice and with righteousness, from now and forever. The zeal of Yahweh of hosts will do this.
8The Lord sent a word against Jacob, and it fell upon Israel.
9And all the people will know it — Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria — in pride and in arrogance of heart, saying:
10“Bricks have fallen, but we will rebuild with hewn stone; sycamores have been cut down, but we will replace them with cedars.”
11So Yahweh has raised up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and he stirs up his enemies —
12Aram from the east and the Philistines from the west, and they devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger has not turned away, and still his hand is stretched out.
13But the people have not turned back to the one striking them, and Yahweh of hosts they have not sought.
14So Yahweh cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed, in one day.
15The elder and the honored one — he is the head; and the prophet teaching falsehood — he is the tail.
16For those guiding this people have led them astray, and those being guided are swallowed up.
17Therefore the Lord will not rejoice over their young men, nor have compassion on their orphans and their widows; for everyone is godless and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this his anger has not turned away, and still his hand is stretched out.
18For wickedness burns like fire; it devours briar and thorn, and it kindles the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column of smoke.
19By the wrath of Yahweh of hosts the land is scorched, and the people have become like fuel for fire; no one spares his brother.
20He tears off on the right and is still hungry, and he devours on the left and is not satisfied; each devours the flesh of his own arm.
21Manasseh against Ephraim, and Ephraim against Manasseh; together they are against Judah. For all this his anger has not turned away, and still his hand is stretched out.
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