Jesaja 9 | New International Reader’s Version

1 But there won’t be any more sadness for those who were suffering. In the past the LORD brought shame on the land of Zebulun. He also brought shame on the land of Naphtali. But in days to come he will honour Galilee, where people from other nations live. He will honour the land along the Mediterranean Sea. And he will honour the territory east of the River Jordan. 2 The people who are now living in darkness will see a great light. They are now living in a very dark land. But a light will shine on them. 3 LORD, you will make our nation larger. You will increase their joy. They will show you how glad they are. They will be as glad as people are at harvest time. They will be as glad as warriors are when they share the things they’ve taken after a battle. 4 You set Israel free from Midian long ago. In the same way, you will break the heavy yoke that weighs Israel down. You will break the wooden beams that are on their shoulders. You will break the rods of those who strike them down. 5 Every fighting man’s boot that he wore in battle will be burned. So will every piece of clothing covered with blood. All of them will be thrown into the fire. 6 A child will be born to us. A son will be given to us. He will rule over us. And he will be called Wonderful Adviser and Mighty God. He will also be called Father Who Lives For Ever and Prince Who Brings Peace. 7 There will be no limit to how great his authority is. The peace he brings will never end. He will rule on David’s throne and over his kingdom. He will make the kingdom strong and secure. His rule will be based on what is fair and right. It will last for ever. The LORD’s great love will make sure that happens. He rules over all.

The Lord is angry with Israel

8 The Lord has sent a message against Jacob’s people. He will punish Israel. 9 All the people will know about it. Ephraim’s people and those who live in Samaria will know about it. Their hearts are very proud. They say, 10 ‘The brick buildings have fallen down. But we will rebuild them with blocks of stone. The fig-trees have been chopped down. But we’ll plant cedar trees in place of them.’ 11 In spite of that, the LORD has made Rezin’s enemies stronger. He has stirred up Assyria to fight against Israel. 12 Arameans from the east have opened their mouths and swallowed up Israel. So have Philistines from the west. Even then, the LORD is still angry. His hand is still raised against them. 13 But his people have not returned to the God who struck them down. They haven’t turned for help to the LORD who rules over all. 14 So he will cut off from Israel heads and tails alike. In a single day he will cut off palm branches and tall grass alike. The palm branches are the people who rule over others. The tall grass is the people who bow down to them. 15 The elders and important leaders are the heads. The prophets who teach lies are the tails. 16 Those who guide the people of Israel are leading them down the wrong path. So those who follow them aren’t on the right road. 17 The Lord will not be pleased with the young men. He won’t take pity on widows and on children whose fathers have died. All of them are ungodly and evil. They say foolish things with their mouths. Even then, the LORD is still angry. His hand is still raised against them. 18 What is evil burns like a fire. It burns up bushes and thorns. It sets the forest on fire. It sends up a huge column of smoke. 19 The LORD rules over all. When he gets angry, he will burn up the land. The people will burn in the fire. They will not spare one another. 20 People will eat up everything they can find on their right. But they’ll still be hungry. They will eat everything they can find on their left. But they won’t be satisfied. So they will eat the dead bodies of their children. 21 That’s what Manasseh’s people will do to Ephraim. And that’s what Ephraim’s people will do to Manasseh. Together they will turn against Judah. Even then, the LORD is still angry. His hand is still raised against them.

English Standard Version

For to Us a Child Is Born

1 * But there will be no 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 glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.* 2 * The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. 3 You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. 4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. 5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. 6 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 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Judgment on Arrogance and Oppression

8 The Lord has sent a word against Jacob, and it will fall on Israel; 9 and all the people will know, Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, who say in pride and in arrogance of heart: 10 “The bricks have fallen, but we will build with dressed stones; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.” 11 But the Lord raises the adversaries of Rezin against him, and stirs up his enemies. 12 The Syrians on the east and the Philistines on the west devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still. 13 The people did not turn to him who struck them, nor inquire of the Lord of hosts. 14 So the Lord cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed in one day— 15 the elder and honored man is the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail; 16 for those who guide this people have been leading them astray, and those who are guided by them are swallowed up. 17 Therefore the Lord does not rejoice over their young men, and has no compassion on their fatherless and widows; for everyone is godless and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly.* For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still. 18 For wickedness burns like a fire; it consumes briers and thorns; it kindles the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column of smoke. 19 Through the wrath of the Lord of hosts the land is scorched, and the people are like fuel for the fire; no one spares another. 20 They slice meat on the right, but are still hungry, and they devour on the left, but are not satisfied; each devours the flesh of his own arm, 21 Manasseh devours Ephraim, and Ephraim devours Manasseh; together they are against Judah. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still.

Jesaja 9 | New International Reader’s Version English Standard Version

The Lord is angry with Israel

For to Us a Child Is Born

Judgment on Arrogance and Oppression