| New International Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 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-- | 1Nevertheless, the gloom of the distressed land will not be like that of the former times when He humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali. But in the future He will bring honor to the Way of the Sea, to the land east of the Jordan, and to Galilee of the nations. |
| 2The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. | 2The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness. |
| 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. | 3You have enlarged the nation and increased its joy. The people have rejoiced before You as they rejoice at harvest time and as they rejoice when dividing spoils. |
| 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. | 4For You have shattered their oppressive yoke and the rod on their shoulders, the staff of their oppressor, just as You did on the day of Midian. |
| 5Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. | 5For the trampling boot of battle and the bloodied garments of war will be burned as 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. | 6For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal 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. | 7The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this. |
| 8The Lord has sent a message against Jacob; it will fall on Israel. | 8The Lord sent a message against Jacob; it came against Israel. |
| 9All the people will know it-- Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria-- who say with pride and arrogance of heart, | 9All the people-- Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria--will know it. They will say with pride and arrogance:" |
| 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." | 10The bricks have fallen, but we will rebuild with cut stones; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will replace them with cedars." |
| 11But the LORD has strengthened Rezin's foes against them and has spurred their enemies on. | 11The LORD has raised up Rezin's adversaries against him and stirred up his enemies. |
| 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. | 12Aram from the east and Philistia from the west have consumed Israel with open mouths. In all this, His anger is not removed, and His hand is still raised to strike. |
| 13But the people have not returned to him who struck them, nor have they sought the LORD Almighty. | 13The people did not turn to Him who struck them; they did not seek the LORD of Hosts. |
| 14So the LORD will cut off from Israel both head and tail, both palm branch and reed in a single day; | 14So the LORD cut off Israel's head and tail, palm branch and reed in a single day. |
| 15the elders and dignitaries are the head, the prophets who teach lies are the tail. | 15The head is the elder, the honored one; the tail is the prophet, the lying teacher. |
| 16Those who guide this people mislead them, and those who are guided are led astray. | 16The leaders of the people mislead them, and those they mislead are swallowed up. |
| 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. | 17Therefore the Lord does not rejoice over Israel's young men and has no compassion on its fatherless and widows, for everyone is a godless evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. In all this, His anger is not removed, and His hand is still raised to strike. |
| 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. | 18For wickedness burns like a fire that consumes thorns and briers and kindles the forest thickets so that they go up 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. | 19The land is scorched by the wrath of the LORD of Hosts, and the people are like fuel for the fire. No one has compassion on his brother. |
| 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: | 20They carve meat on the right, but they are still hungry; they have eaten on the left, but they are still not satisfied. Each one eats the flesh of his own 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. | 21Manasseh is with Ephraim, and Ephraim with Manasseh; together, both are against Judah. In all this, His anger is not removed, and His hand is still raised to strike. |
| New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
|
