Chapter 9

Nevertheless the dimness [shall] not [be] such as [was] in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted⁵² the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict⁵² [her by] the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.

The people that walked⁶ in darkness have seen¹ a great light: they that dwell⁶ in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.¹

Thou hast multiplied⁵² the nation, [and] not increased⁵² the joy: they joy¹ before thee according to the joy in harvest, [and] as [men] rejoice⁴ when they divide¹⁵ the spoil.

For thou hast broken⁵² the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor,⁶ as in the day of Midian.

For every battle of the warrior⁶ [is] with confused noise, and garments rolled²¹ in blood; but [this] shall be with burning [and] fuel of fire.

For unto us a child is born,²⁷ unto us a son is given:⁸ and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called⁴ Wonderful, Counsellor,⁶ The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of [his] government and peace [there shall be] no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order⁵³ it, and to establish² it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform⁴ this.

The Lord sent¹ a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted¹ upon Israel.

And all the people shall know,¹ [even] Ephraim and the inhabitant⁶ of Samaria, that say² in the pride and stoutness of heart,

The bricks are fallen down,¹ but we will build⁴ with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down,²⁷ but we will change⁵⁵ [them into] cedars.

Therefore the LORD shall set up¹⁷ the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies⁶ together;⁴⁶

The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour⁴ Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away,¹ but his hand [is] stretched out⁷ still.

For the people turneth¹ not unto him that smiteth⁵⁶ them, neither do they seek¹ the LORD of hosts.

Therefore the LORD will cut off⁵⁵ from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day.

The ancient and honourable, ^{5375 7} he [is] the head; and the prophet that teacheth⁵⁶ lies, he [is] the tail.

For the leaders¹⁸ of this people cause [them] to err;⁵⁶ and [they that are] led of them³⁰ [are] destroyed.³⁰

Therefore the Lord shall have no joy⁴ in their young men, neither shall have mercy¹⁷ on their fatherless and widows: for every one [is] an hypocrite and an evildoer,⁵⁶ and every mouth speaketh⁶ folly. For all this his anger is not turned away,¹ but his hand [is] stretched out⁷ still.

For wickedness burneth¹ as the fire: it shall devour⁴ the briers and thorns, and shall kindle⁴ in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up¹⁰¹ [like] the lifting up of smoke.

Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts is the land darkened,⁸ and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare⁴ his brother.

And he shall snatch⁴ on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat⁴ on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied:¹ they shall eat⁴ every man the flesh of his own arm:

Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: [and] they together [shall be] against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away,¹ but his hand [is] stretched out⁷ still.