| NET Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1The gloom will be dispelled for those who were anxious. In earlier times he humiliated the land of Zebulun, and the land of Naphtali; but now he brings honor to the way of the sea, the region beyond the Jordan, and Galilee of the nations. | 1 But there will be no gloom for her who was in distress. Formerly, he brought contempt to the region of Zebulun and the region of Naphtali, but in the future he will have made glorious the way of the sea, the territory beyond the Jordan—Galilee of the nations. |
| 2The people walking in darkness see a bright light; light shines on those who live in a land of deep darkness. | 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; for those living in a land of deep darkness, a light has shined upon them. |
| 3You have enlarged the nation; you give them great joy. They rejoice in your presence as harvesters rejoice; as warriors celebrate when they divide up the plunder. | 3You have increased the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice in your presence as they rejoice at the harvest, as they are glad when they're dividing the spoils of war. |
| 4For their oppressive yoke and the club that strikes their shoulders, the cudgel the oppressor uses on them, you have shattered, as in the day of Midian's defeat. | 4Now as to the yoke that has been his burden, and the bar laid on his shoulder— the rod of his oppressor— you have broken it as on the day of Midiam. |
| 5Indeed every boot that marches and shakes the earth and every garment dragged through blood is used as fuel for the fire. | 5For every boot of the tramping soldier in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be used for burning as fuel for a fire. |
| 6For a child has been born to us, a son has been given to us. He shoulders responsibility and is called: Extraordinary Strategist, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. | 6For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. |
| 7His dominion will be vast and he will bring immeasurable prosperity. He will rule on David's throne and over David's kingdom, establishing it and strengthening it by promoting justice and fairness, from this time forward and forevermore. The LORD's intense devotion to his people will accomplish this. | 7Of the growth of his government and peace there will be no end. He will rule over his kingdom, sitting on the throne of David, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of the Heavenly Armies will accomplish this. |
| 8The sovereign master decreed judgment on Jacob, and it fell on Israel. | 8"The LORD has sent a plague against Jacob, and it will fall on Israel; |
| 9All the people were aware of it, the people of Ephraim and those living in Samaria. Yet with pride and an arrogant attitude, they said, | 9and all of the people were evil — Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria— saying proudly with arrogant hearts: |
| 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." | 10The bricks have fallen, but we will build with dressed stones; the sycamore trees have been cut down, but we will replace them with cedars.' |
| 11Then the LORD provoked their adversaries to attack them, he stirred up their enemies-- | 11But the LORD has raised adversaries from Rezin against him, and he stirs up his enemies— |
| 12Syria from the east, and the Philistines from the west, they gobbled up Israelite territory. Despite all this, his anger does not subside, and his hand is ready to strike again. | 12Arameans from the east and Philistines from the west— and they devour Israel with open mouths! "Yet for all this, his anger has not turned away, and his hand is still stretched out, ready to strike." |
| 13The people did not return to the one who struck them, they did not seek reconciliation with the LORD who commands armies. | 13"But the people have not returned to rely on him who struck them, nor have they sought the LORD of the Heavenly Armies. |
| 14So the LORD cut off Israel's head and tail, both the shoots and stalk in one day. | 14So the LORD has cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed in a single day— |
| 15The leaders and the highly respected people are the head, the prophets who teach lies are the tail. | 15the elder and the dignitary is the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail. |
| 16The leaders of this nation were misleading people, and the people being led were destroyed. | 16For those who guide this people have been leading them astray, and those who are guided by them are swallowed up. |
| 17So the sovereign master was not pleased with their young men, he took no pity on their orphans and widows; for the whole nation was godless and did wicked things, every mouth was speaking disgraceful words. Despite all this, his anger does not subside, and his hand is ready to strike again. | 17Therefore the Lord does not have pity on their young men, and has no compassion on their orphans and widows, because each of them was godless and an evildoer, and every mouth spoke folly. "Yet for all this, his anger has not turned away, and his hand is still stretched out, ready to strike. |
| 18For evil burned like a fire, it consumed thorns and briers; it burned up the thickets of the forest, and they went up in smoke. | 18"For wickedness has burned like a blaze that consumes briers and thorns; it sets thickets of the forest on fire, and skyward they swirl in a column of smoke. |
| 19Because of the anger of the LORD who commands armies, the land was scorched, and the people became fuel for the fire. People had no compassion on one another. | 19From the wrath of the LORD of the Heavenly Armies the land has been scorched, and the people have become like fuel for the fire; no one will spare his neighbor. |
| 20They devoured on the right, but were still hungry, they ate on the left, but were not satisfied. People even ate the flesh of their own arm! | 20They cut meat on the right, but they're still hungry, and they devour also on the left, but they're not satisfied; each devours the flesh of his own children. |
| 21Manasseh fought against Ephraim, and Ephraim against Manasseh; together they fought against Judah. Despite all this, his anger does not subside, and his hand is ready to strike again. | 21Manasseh devours Ephraim, and Ephraim devours Manasseh; together they are against Judah. "Yet for all this, his anger has not turned away, and his hand is still stretched out, ready to strike." |
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