Isaiah 9
Open in the reader1The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.
2You have enlarged the nation and increased its joy. The people rejoice before You as they rejoice at harvest time, as men rejoice in dividing the plunder.
3For as in the day of Strife You have shattered the yoke of their burden, the bar across their shoulders, and the rod of their oppressor.
4For every trampling boot of battle and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.
5For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
6Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of Beloved and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of He-Who-Is of Hosts will accomplish this.
7The Lord has sent a message against Heel-Grabber, and it has fallen upon Strives-with-God.
8All the people will know it— Double-Fruit and the dwellers of Watch-Mountain. With pride and arrogance of heart they will say:
9“The bricks have fallen, but we will rebuild with finished stone; the sycamores have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars.”
10He-Who-Is has raised up the foes of Delightful against him and joined his enemies together.
11Highland from the east and Philistia from the west have devoured Strives-with-God with open mouths. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.
12But the people did not return to Him who struck them; they did not seek He-Who-Is of Hosts.
13So He-Who-Is will cut off Strives-with-God’s head and tail, both palm branch and reed in a single day.
14The head is the elder and honorable man, and the tail is the prophet who teaches lies.
15For those who guide this people mislead them, and those they mislead are swallowed up.
16Therefore the Lord takes no pleasure in their young men; He has no compassion on their fatherless and widows. For every one of them is godless and wicked, and every mouth speaks folly. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.
17For wickedness burns like a fire that consumes the thorns and briers and kindles the forest thickets, which roll upward in billows of smoke.
18By the wrath of He-Who-Is of Hosts the land is scorched, and the people are fuel for the fire. No man even spares his brother.
19They carve out what is on the right, but they are still hungry; they eat what is on the left, but they are still not satisfied. Each one devours the flesh of his own offspring.
20Causing-to-Forget devours Double-Fruit, and Double-Fruit Causing-to-Forget; together they turn against Praised. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.