| King James Bible | New International Version |
| 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. | 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 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. | 2The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. |
| 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. | 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 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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 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, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. | 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 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. | 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. |
| 8The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel. | 8The Lord has sent a message against Jacob; it will fall on Israel. |
| 9And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart, | 9All the people will know it-- Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria-- who say with pride and arrogance 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. | 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." |
| 11Therefore the LORD shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together; | 11But the LORD has strengthened Rezin's foes against them and has spurred their enemies on. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 13For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts. | 13But the people have not returned to him who struck them, nor have they sought the LORD Almighty. |
| 14Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day. | 14So the LORD will cut off from Israel both head and tail, both palm branch and reed in a single day; |
| 15The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail. | 15the elders and dignitaries are the head, the prophets who teach lies are the tail. |
| 16For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed. | 16Those who guide this people mislead them, and those who are guided are led astray. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 18For 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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: | 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 offspring: |
| 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. | 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. |
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