In Hebrew texts 9:1 is numbered 8:23, and 9:2-21 is numbered 9:1-20. 1Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—
2The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
3You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder.
4For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.
5Every warrior’s boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.
6For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
The Lord’s Anger Against Israel
8The Lord has sent a message against Jacob;
it will fall on Israel.
9All the people will know it—
Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria—
who say with pride
and arrogance of heart,
10“The bricks have fallen down,
but we will rebuild with dressed stone;
the fig trees have been felled,
but we will replace them with cedars.”
11But the Lord has strengthened Rezin’s foes against them
and has spurred their enemies on.
12Arameans from the east and Philistines from the west
have devoured Israel with open mouth.
Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,
his hand is still upraised.
13But the people have not returned to him who struck them,
nor have they sought the Lord Almighty.
14So the Lord will cut off from Israel both head and tail,
both palm branch and reed in a single day;
15the elders and dignitaries are the head,
the prophets who teach lies are the tail.
16Those who guide this people mislead them,
and those who are guided are led astray.
17Therefore the Lord will take no pleasure in the young men,
nor will he pity the fatherless and widows,
for everyone is ungodly and wicked,
every mouth speaks folly.
Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,
his hand is still upraised.
18Surely wickedness burns like a fire;
it consumes briers and thorns,
it sets the forest thickets ablaze,
so that it rolls upward in a column of smoke.
19By the wrath of the Lord Almighty
the land will be scorched
and the people will be fuel for the fire;
they will not spare one another.
20On the right they will devour,
but still be hungry;
on the left they will eat,
but not be satisfied.
Each will feed on the flesh of their own offspring9:20 Or arm:
21Manasseh will feed on Ephraim, and Ephraim on Manasseh;
together they will turn against Judah.
Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,
his hand is still upraised.
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，即约旦河东、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，
活在死荫之地的人必被光照亮。
3耶和华啊，你必使以色列成为大国，
使他们喜气洋洋。
他们必在你面前欢喜快乐，
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重轭和欺压者的棍棒，
好像昔日你毁灭米甸人一样；
5勇士争战穿的靴子和染血的战袍都要被扔进火里烧掉。
6因为必有一个婴儿为我们诞生，
有一个儿子要赐给我们，
祂肩头必担负王权。
祂被称为奇妙的策士、大能的上帝、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兴邦，
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主已出言审判雅各家，
他的审判必临到以色列，
9以法莲和撒玛利亚的居民都知道。
他们骄傲自大地说：
10“砖墙倒塌了，
我们凿石重建；
桑树砍倒了，
我们换种香柏树。”
11因此耶和华必兴起利汛的仇敌，
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，
祂降罚的手仍没有收回。
13但百姓没有归向击打他们的主，
也不寻求万军之耶和华。
14因此，耶和华要在一日之间铲除以色列的头和尾，
棕树枝和芦苇。
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他们都目无上帝，
行事邪恶，口出妄语。
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，
祂降罚的手仍没有收回。
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烧焦大地，
百姓成为烧火的柴，
弟兄彼此相煎。
20他们左抢右夺，
仍食不果腹，
纷纷吃自己的骨肉9:20 “骨肉”或译“臂膀的肉”。。
21以法莲和玛拿西自相残杀，
又联合起来攻打犹大。
虽然如此，耶和华的怒气还没有止息，
祂降罚的手仍没有收回。
