未来的君王
1但那些受过痛苦的人必不再遇见黑暗。从前，耶和华使西布伦人和拿弗他利人住的地方受人藐视，日后必使这些地方，即约旦河对岸、沿海一带、外族人居住的加利利得到荣耀。
2走在黑暗中的人必看见大光，
活在死亡阴影下的人必被光照亮。
3耶和华啊，你必使以色列成为大国，
人民都喜气洋洋，
在你面前欢喜快乐，
好像丰收时那样欢喜，
如同瓜分战利品时那样快乐。
4因为你必折断他们负的轭和欺压者的棍棒，
好像昔日你毁灭米甸人一样；
5战士的靴子和染血的征袍都要被丢进火里烧掉。
6必有一个婴儿为我们诞生，
有一个孩子要赐给我们，
祂必统治我们。
祂被称为奇妙的策士、全能的上帝、永存的父、和平的君。
7祂的国必长治久安。
祂必坐在大卫的宝座上以公平和公义治国，
使国家永固。
万军之耶和华必热切地成就此事。
耶和华要审判以色列
8主已发言责备雅各家，
他的责备落在以色列，
9住在以法莲和撒玛利亚的以色列人都知道。
他们骄傲自大地说：
10“砖墙倒塌了，
我们可以凿石重建；
桑树砍倒了，
我们可以再种香柏树。”
11因此耶和华必驱使敌人来攻击他们。
12东有亚兰人，西有非利士人，
他们必吞噬以色列。
虽然如此，耶和华的怒气还没有止息，
祂的惩罚还没有停止。
13但以色列人没有归向万军之耶和华，
也不寻求祂。
14因此，耶和华要在一日之间铲除以色列的头和尾。
15头是指他们的长老和首领，
尾是指教人虚谎之事的假先知。
16这些带领者使百姓步入歧途、
走向灭亡。
17他们目无上帝，
行事邪恶，口出狂言。
所以，主不喜欢他们的青年，
也不怜悯他们的孤儿寡妇。
虽然如此，耶和华的怒气还没有止息，
祂降罚的手没有收回。
18邪恶像燃烧的火焰，
焚毁荆棘和蒺藜，点燃密林，
烟柱旋转上腾。
19万军之耶和华的烈怒必如火一般烧焦大地，
人们成为烧火的柴，
甚至弟兄彼此相煎。
20他们到处抢夺食物，
仍饥饿难忍，
甚至吃自己的骨肉9:20 “骨肉”或译“臂膀的肉”。。
21以法莲和玛拿西必自相残杀，
又联合起来攻打犹大。
虽然如此，耶和华的怒气还没有止息，
祂降罚的手没有收回。
1But 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 honor Galilee, where people from other nations live. He will honor the land along the Mediterranean Sea. And he will honor the territory east of the Jordan River.
2The 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.
3Lord, 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.
4You 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.
5Every fighting man’s boot that he wore in battle will be burned up.
So will every piece of clothing covered with blood.
All of them will be thrown into the fire.
6A 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 Forever
and Prince Who Brings Peace.
7There 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 forever.
The Lord’s great love will make sure that happens.
He rules over all.
The Lord Is Angry With Israel
8The Lord has sent a message against Jacob’s people.
He will punish Israel.
9All 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.”
11In spite of that, the Lord has made Rezin’s enemies stronger.
He has stirred up Assyria to fight against Israel.
12Arameans 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.
13But 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.
14So 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.
15The elders and important leaders are the heads.
The prophets who teach lies are the tails.
16Those who guide the people of Israel are leading them down the wrong path.
So those who follow them aren’t on the right road.
17The 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.
18What 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.
19The 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.
20People 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.
21That’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.
