1Nevertheless
the dimness shall not be such
as was in
her
vexation,
when at the
first he
lightly
afflicted
the land of
Zebulun and
the land of
Naphtali,
and
afterward
did more
grievously
afflict her
by the
way of the
sea, beyond
Jordan, in
Galilee of
the nations.
2The
people that
walked in
darkness
have seen a
great light:
they that
dwell in the
land of the
shadow of
death, upon
them hath
the light
shined.
3Thou
hast
multiplied
the nation, and not
increased
the joy:
they joy
before thee
according to
the joy in
harvest, and as men rejoice
when they
divide the
spoil.
4For
thou hast
broken the
yoke of his
burden, and
the staff of
his
shoulder,
the rod of
his
oppressor,
as in the
day of
Midian.
5For
every battle
of the
warrior is with
confused
noise, and
garments
rolled in
blood; but this shall
be with
burning and fuel
of fire.
6For
unto us a
child is
born, unto
us a son is
given: and
the
government
shall be
upon his
shoulder:
and his name
shall be
called
Wonderful,
Counsellor,
The mighty
God, The
everlasting
Father, The
Prince of
Peace.
7Of
the increase
of his government
and peace there
shall be no
end, upon
the throne
of David,
and upon his
kingdom, to
order it,
and to
establish it
with
judgment and
with justice
from
henceforth
even for
ever. The
zeal of the
LORD of
hosts will
perform
this.
8The
Lord sent a
word into
Jacob, and
it hath
lighted upon
Israel.
9And
all the
people shall
know, even Ephraim
and the
inhabitant
of Samaria,
that say in
the pride
and
stoutness of
heart,
10The
bricks are
fallen down,
but we will
build with
hewn stones:
the
sycomores
are cut
down, but we
will change them
into cedars.
11Therefore
the LORD
shall set up
the
adversaries
of Rezin
against him,
and join his
enemies
together;
12The
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.
13For
the people
turneth not
unto him
that smiteth
them,
neither do
they seek
the LORD of
hosts.
14Therefore
the LORD
will cut off
from Israel
head and
tail, branch
and rush, in
one day.
15The
ancient and
honourable,
he is the
head; and
the prophet
that
teacheth
lies, he is the
tail.
16For
the leaders
of this
people
cause them to
err; and they
that are led
of them are destroyed.
17Therefore
the Lord
shall have
no joy in
their young
men, neither
shall have
mercy on
their
fatherless
and widows:
for every
one is an
hypocrite
and an
evildoer,
and every
mouth
speaketh
folly. For
all this his
anger is not
turned away,
but his
hand is stretched
out still.
18For
wickedness
burneth 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.
19Through
the wrath of
the LORD of
hosts is the
land
darkened,
and the
people shall
be as the
fuel of the
fire: no man
shall spare
his brother.
20And
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 every
man the
flesh of his
own arm:
21Manasseh,
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.