9:111
The gloom will be dispelled for those who were anxious.12
In earlier times he13
humiliated
the land of Zebulun,
and the land of Naphtali;14
but now he brings honor15
to the way of the sea,
the region beyond the Jordan,
and Galilee of the nations.16
9:2 The people walking in darkness
see a bright light;17
light shines on
those who live in a land of deep darkness.18
9:3 You19
make them very happy,
you give them great joy.20
They rejoice in your presence,
as harvesters rejoice;
as warriors celebrate21
when they divide up the loot.
9:4 For their burdensome yoke,
and the club that strikes their shoulders,
the cudgel the oppressor uses on them,22
you have shattered, as in the day of Midian’s defeat.23
9:5 Indeed every boot that marches and shakes the
earth,24
and garment dragged through blood,
is used as fuel for the fire.
9:6 For a child has been25
born to us,
a son has been26
given to us.
He shoulders responsibility,
and is called:27
Extraordinary Strategist,28
Mighty God,29
Everlasting Father,30
Prince of Peace.31
9:7 His dominion will be vast,32
and he will bring immeasurable prosperity.33
He will rule on David’s throne,
and over his kingdom;34
establishing it35
and strengthening it,36
by promoting justice and fairness,37
from this time forward and forevermore.
The LORD’s intense devotion to his people38
will accomplish this.
God’s Judgment Intensifies
9:839
The sovereign master decreed judgment40
on Jacob,
and it fell on Israel.41
9:9 All the people were aware42
of it,
the people of Ephraim and those living in Samaria.43
Yet with pride and an arrogant attitude, they said,44
9:10 “The bricks have fallen,
but we will rebuild with chiseled stone;
the sycamore fig trees have been cut down,
but we will replace them with cedars.”45
9:11 Then the LORD provoked46
their adversaries to attack them,47
he stirred up48
their enemies;
9:12 Syria from the east,
and the Philistines from the west,
they gobbled up Israelite territory.49
Despite all this, his anger does not subside,
and his hand is ready to strike again.50
9:13 The people did not return to the one who struck them,
they did not seek reconciliation51
with the LORD who leads armies.
9:14 So the LORD cut off Israel’s head and tail,
both the shoots and stalk52
in one day.
9:15 The leaders and the highly respected53
are the head,
the prophets who teach lies are the tail.
9:16 The leaders of this nation were misleading people,
and the people being led were destroyed.54
9:17 So the sovereign master was not pleased55
with their young men,
he took no pity56
on their orphans and widows;
for the whole nation was godless57
and did wicked things,58
every mouth was speaking disgraceful words.59
Despite all this, his anger does not subside,
and his hand is ready to strike again.60
9:18 For61
evil burned like a fire,62
it consumed thorns and briers;
it burned up the thickets of the forest,
and they went up in smoke.63
9:19 Because of the anger of the LORD who leads
armies, the land was scorched,64
and the people became fuel for the fire.65
People had no compassion on one another.66
9:20 They devoured67
on the right, but were still hungry,
they ate on the left, but were not satisfied.
People even ate68
the flesh of their own arm!69
9:21 Manasseh fought against70
Ephraim,
and Ephraim against Manasseh;
together they fought against71
Judah.
Despite all this, his anger does not subside,
and his hand is ready to strike again.72