Add parallel Print Page Options

(23) Nevertheless there will be no gloom in her in anguish. In Et HaRishon (the former time) He brought into contempt Artzah Zevulun and Artzah Naphtali, but acharon (afterward, in the future) did bring to honor Derech HaYam (Way to the Sea, land between Sea of Galilee and the Mediterranean), beyond Yarden, in the Galil HaGoyim.

(1) The people that walked in choshech have seen an Ohr gadol; they that dwell in the eretz tzalmavet, upon them hath the Ohr dawned.

(2) Thou shalt multiply the Goy (Nation), and increase its simchah; they joy before Thee according to the simchat baKatzir, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

(3) For Thou hast broken the ol (yoke) of his burden, and the mateh (staff) of his shoulder, the shevet hanogesh (rod of the task master) of him, as in the yom of Midyan [See Judges 7:25).

(4) For every boot of the tramping warrior in the battle’s tumult, and simlah (garments) megolalah (rolled) in damim (blood) shall be for burning and ma’acholet eish (food for fire).

(5) For unto us a yeled is born, unto us ben is given; and the misrah (dominion) shall be upon his shoulder; and Shmo shall be called Peleh (Wonderful), Yoetz (Counsellor), El Gibbor (Mighty G-d), Avi Ad (Possessor of Eternity), Sar Shalom (Prince of Peace).

(6) Of the increase of his misrah and shalom there shall be no ketz (end), upon the Kisse Dovid, and upon his kingdom, to strengthen it, and to support it with mishpat and with tzedakah from henceforth even ad olam (forever). The Kinat Hashem Tzva’os will fulfill this.

(7) Adonoi sent davar against Ya’akov, and it hath fallen upon Yisroel.

(8) And all HaAm shall know it, even Ephrayim and the inhabitant of Shomron, that say in the ga’avah (pride) and haughtiness levav (of heart),

10 (9) The levenim (bricks) are fallen down, but we will rebuild with cut stones; the sycamores are cut down, but we will replace them with cedars.

11 (10) Therefore Hashem shall strengthen the adversaries of Retzin against him, and spur on his enemies;

12 (11) The Syrians from the east, and the Pelishtim from the west; and they shall devour Yisroel with open mouth. For all this His anger is not turned away, but His yad is upraised still.

13 (12) For HaAm turneth not unto Him that struck them, neither do they seek Hashem Tzva’os.

14 (13) Therefore Hashem will root out of Yisroel head and tail, palm branch and reed, in yom echad.

15 (14) The zaken and prominent man is the head; and the navi that is the moreh sheker (teacher of lies, false teacher) is the tail.

16 (15) For the me’ashrei HaAm HaZeh (leaders of this people) cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.

17 (16) Therefore Adonoi shall have no joy in their bocherim, neither shall have mercy on their yetomim and almanot; for every one is a chanef (g-dless, hypocritical) and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh nevalah (folly). For all this His anger is not turned away, but His yad is upraised still.

18 (17) For wickedness burneth like eish; it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall smoke upward like the lifting up of ashan (smoke).

19 (18) Through the Evrat Hashem Tzva’os (Wrath of Hashem of Hosts) is the land darkened, and HaAm shall be ma’acholet eish (food for fire); no ish shall spare his brother.

20 (19) And they grab on the yamin (right hand), and are still hungry; and shall eat on the smol (left hand), and they shall not be satisfied; they shall eat every ish the basar of his own zero’a;

[a]Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom(A) for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,(B) but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—

The people walking in darkness(C)
    have seen a great light;(D)
on those living in the land of deep darkness(E)
    a light has dawned.(F)
You have enlarged the nation(G)
    and increased their joy;(H)
they rejoice before you
    as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
    when dividing the plunder.(I)
For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,(J)
    you have shattered(K)
the yoke(L) that burdens them,
    the bar across their shoulders,(M)
    the rod of their oppressor.(N)
Every warrior’s boot used in battle
    and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,(O)
    will be fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born,(P)
    to us a son is given,(Q)
    and the government(R) will be on his shoulders.(S)
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor,(T) Mighty God,(U)
    Everlasting(V) Father,(W) Prince of Peace.(X)
Of the greatness of his government(Y) and peace(Z)
    there will be no end.(AA)
He will reign(AB) on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice(AC) and righteousness(AD)
    from that time on and forever.(AE)
The zeal(AF) of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this.

The Lord’s Anger Against Israel

The Lord has sent a message(AG) against Jacob;
    it will fall on Israel.
All the people will know it—
    Ephraim(AH) and the inhabitants of Samaria(AI)
who say with pride
    and arrogance(AJ) of heart,
10 “The bricks have fallen down,
    but we will rebuild with dressed stone;(AK)
the fig(AL) trees have been felled,
    but we will replace them with cedars.(AM)
11 But the Lord has strengthened Rezin’s(AN) foes against them
    and has spurred their enemies on.
12 Arameans(AO) from the east and Philistines(AP) from the west
    have devoured(AQ) Israel with open mouth.

Yet for all this, his anger(AR) is not turned away,
    his hand is still upraised.(AS)

13 But the people have not returned(AT) to him who struck(AU) them,
    nor have they sought(AV) the Lord Almighty.
14 So the Lord will cut off from Israel both head and tail,
    both palm branch and reed(AW) in a single day;(AX)
15 the elders(AY) and dignitaries(AZ) are the head,
    the prophets(BA) who teach lies(BB) are the tail.
16 Those who guide(BC) this people mislead them,
    and those who are guided are led astray.(BD)
17 Therefore the Lord will take no pleasure in the young men,(BE)
    nor will he pity(BF) the fatherless and widows,
for everyone is ungodly(BG) and wicked,(BH)
    every mouth speaks folly.(BI)

Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,
    his hand is still upraised.(BJ)

18 Surely wickedness burns like a fire;(BK)
    it consumes briers and thorns,(BL)
it sets the forest thickets ablaze,(BM)
    so that it rolls upward in a column of smoke.
19 By the wrath(BN) of the Lord Almighty
    the land will be scorched(BO)
and the people will be fuel for the fire;(BP)
    they will not spare one another.(BQ)
20 On the right they will devour,
    but still be hungry;(BR)
on the left they will eat,(BS)
    but not be satisfied.
Each will feed on the flesh of their own offspring[b]:
21     Manasseh will feed on Ephraim, and Ephraim on Manasseh;(BT)
    together they will turn against Judah.(BU)

Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,
    his hand is still upraised.(BV)

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 9:1 In Hebrew texts 9:1 is numbered 8:23, and 9:2-21 is numbered 9:1-20.
  2. Isaiah 9:20 Or arm