Isaiah 9

Light in the Darkness

1 But there will be no more gloom for the people who were in distress. In the past, God humbled the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali, but in the future, He will honor that same region, Galilee of the nations, by bringing glory to it.

2 The people walking in darkness will see a great light; those living in the shadow of death will have light shining on them.

3 You will make the nation grow and increase their joy. They will celebrate before You like people do when they harvest crops or when they split up the loot after victory.

4 You will break the heavy yoke on their shoulders, the rod on their backs, just like You did when You crushed Midian.

5 Every soldier’s boot and bloody uniform will be burned up, turned into fuel for the fire.

6 For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; the government will rest on His shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 His kingdom and peace will keep growing forever. He will rule from David’s throne, making it solid with justice and righteousness forever. The passion of the Lord of Armies will make it happen.

The Lord’s Anger Still Burns

8 The Lord sent a message against Jacob, and it hit Israel hard.

9 All the people, Ephraim and Samaria, will know it. They are walking around talking proud, saying,

10 “The bricks fell, but we will build with stone. The sycamores got cut down, but we will plant cedars instead.”

11 So the Lord’s raising up their enemies, Rezin’s enemies, and letting their haters attack them.

12 Aram on the east and the Philistines on the west, they will eat Israel alive. But even after all that, the Lord’s anger will not cool down; His hand is still stretched out to strike.

The Corrupt Leadership of Israel

13 The people still are not turned back to the One who struck them, and they do not seek the Lord of Armies.

14 So the Lord is going to cut off from Israel both head and tail, palm branch and reed, all in one day.

15 The elders and honored leaders are the head; the false prophets who teach lies are the tail.

16 Those leading the people are leading them straight into confusion, and the ones following them are getting destroyed.

17 That is why the Lord is not showing pity to their young ones or mercy to the fatherless and widows, because everyone is corrupt, doing evil and speaking lies. Even then, His anger is not done, His hand is still raised.

Wickedness Spreading Like Fire

18 Wickedness burns like a wildfire, it eats up thorns and weeds, sets the forest on fire, and the smoke rolls up like a furnace.

19 The Lord’s anger burned up the land, and the people are like fuel for the fire, each one turning on his brother.

20 They slice meat on the right, but they are still hungry. They eat on the left, but they are still empty. They are devouring each other, Manasseh against Ephraim, Ephraim against Manasseh, both turning on Judah.

21 And even after all that, the Lord’s anger is not cooled down, His hand is still stretched out to strike.