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.9.1 of the nations: or, populous 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.9.3 not: or, to him 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.9.4 For…: or, When thou brakest 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.9.5 For…: or, When the whole battle of the warrior was, etc9.5 but…: or, and it was, etc9.5 fuel: Heb. meat 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.
8¶ The 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;9.11 join: Heb. mingle 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.9.12 open: Heb. whole
13¶ For 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.9.16 the leaders: or, they that call them blessed9.16 led of: or, called blessed of9.16 destroyed: Heb. swallowed up 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.9.17 folly: or, villany
18¶ For 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.9.19 fuel: Heb. meat 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:9.20 snatch: Heb cut 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.
1Det folk, som går rundt i mørke,
skal se et strålende lys.
Lyset vil skinne på alle,
som lever i dødsskyggens land.
2Herre, du gør jubelen stor,
du fylder os med glæde,
som når høstfolk fryder sig over høsten,
som krigere jubler, når de deler byttet.
3For du bryder det tunge åg,
som hviler på vores skuldre,
knækker slavefogedens kæp,
som da du frelste os fra midjanitterne.
4Støvler, der trampede i krigen,
og kapper, som er sølet i blod
skal brændes op,
fortæres af ilden.
5For et barn er født os!
En søn er os givet!
Han skal herske over os,
og han skal kaldes:
„Underfuld Rådgiver”,
„Vældig Gud”,
„Evig Fader”,
„Fredsfyrste”.
6Når han bliver konge i Davidsriget,
bliver hans magt uden grænser,
og han skaber fred overalt.
For han bygger sit rige på retfærdighed
fra nu af og til evig tid.
Herren, den Almægtige,
vil gøre, hvad han har besluttet.
Herrens dom over Nordriget
7Herren har udtalt sin dom over Israels rige, over Jakobs slægt. 8Alle i Samaria har hørt det, det er kendt i Efraims land. Alligevel siger de i hovmod og trods: 9„Hvis landet lægges i ruiner, bygger vi det bare op igen, så det bliver bedre end før. Vi bruger tilhugne natursten i stedet for brændte lersten, og vi erstatter det ødelagte morbærfigentræ med cedertræ.” 10Herren vil svare på deres hovmod ved at føre fjender imod dem, 11aramæerne fra øst og filistrene fra vest. Med vidtåbne gab kommer de og opsluger Israel. Alligevel er Herrens vrede ikke forbi. Hans hånd er stadig løftet til slag.
12Men de angrede ikke over for ham, der straffede dem. De søgte stadig ikke Herren, den Almægtige. 13-14Derfor vil Herren hugge hoved og hale af Israel og tilintetgøre både høj og lav på samme dag. Landets ledere er hovedet, de løgnagtige profeter er halen. 15Folkets ledere førte dem vild, de viste dem vej til afgrunden.
16Derfor vil Herren ikke hjælpe de unge krigere, og han har ikke medynk med dem, der bliver enker, og dem, der bliver faderløse. De er jo alle onde og gudløse, og de taler som tåber. Derfor er Herrens vrede endnu ikke forbi. Hans hånd er stadig løftet til slag.
17Ondskaben brænder som en ild, der fortærer tjørn og tidsel og antænder skovens tætte krat, så røgen hvirvler op. 18-19Herren den Almægtiges vrede afsvider landet, og folket bliver ildens bytte. Ingen hjælper hinanden, men de slås med deres nærmeste om føden. De stjæler mad fra hinanden, men bliver ikke mætte. De æder alt, hvad de kan finde af spiseligt, men er lige sultne. Nogle vil endda fortære deres egne børn. 20Manasse er imod Efraim, Efraim er imod Manasse—og sammen overfalder de Judas stamme. Alligevel er Herrens vrede endnu ikke forbi. Hans hånd er stadig løftet til slag.
