1 ¶ Nevertheless the land that is in anguish will not continue in gloom. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will bring honor to the road by the sea beyond the Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.

2 The people who walk in darkness will see a great light: and that light will shine on those who dwell in the land of the shadow of death.

3 You will increase the nation, and increase their joy: they will rejoice before you like those who celebrate the harvest, and like men rejoice when they divide the spoils.

4 For you have broken the yoke that is a burden to them, and the rod used to beat their backs, the rod of their oppressor, as at the time of Midian.

5 For every warriors boot, all his armor in the tumult of battle, and every garment rolled in blood; will be burned as fuel for the fire.

6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government will be on his shoulders: and his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end, on the throne of David, and over his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and for evermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

8 ¶ The Lord has sent a word to Jacob, and it will light on Israel.

9 And all the people will know it, even Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, who say in their pride and arrogance of heart,

10 The bricks have fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycamores have been cut down, but we will replace them with cedars.

11 Therefore the LORD has stirred up Rezin’s adversaries against him, and will spur on his enemies;

12 The Syrians from the east, and the Philistines from the west; and they will devour Israel with an open mouth. Even after this his anger will not be turned away, but his hand will remain stretched out in judgement.

13 For the people will not turn to him who strikes them, nor will they seek the LORD of hosts.

14 Therefore the LORD will cut off Israel’s head and tail, palm and reed, in one day.

15 The old and honorable man, is the head; and the prophet who teaches lies, is the tail.

16 For the leaders of these people lead them astray; and those who are led by them are destroyed.

17 Therefore the Lord will not spare their young men, or have mercy on their orphans and widows: for every one is a hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. Even after all this he will not stop being angry, but his hand will remain stretched out in judgement.

18 For wickedness burns like fire: devouring briers and thorns, and it will set the thick forests on fire, and they will whirl upward in clouds of smoke.

19 Through the anger of the LORD of hosts the land is scorched, and the people will be fuel for the fire: no one will have compassion on his brother.

20 One will devour on the right, and still be hungry; another will devour on the left, and not be satisfied: each man will eat their own flesh and blood:

21 Manasseh, devours Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: and they are both against Judah. For all this his anger will not be turned away, but his hand will remain stretched out in judgement.