2#

Verses 9:2-21 are numbered 9:1-20 in Hebrew text.

The people who walk in darkness

will see a great light.

For those who live in a land of deep darkness,#

Greek version reads a land where death casts its shadow. Compare Matt 4:16.

a light will shine.

3You will enlarge the nation of Israel,

and its people will rejoice.

They will rejoice before you

as people rejoice at the harvest

and like warriors dividing the plunder.

4For you will break the yoke of their slavery

and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders.

You will break the oppressor’s rod,

just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian.

5The boots of the warrior

and the uniforms bloodstained by war

will all be burned.

They will be fuel for the fire.

6For a child is born to us,

a son is given to us.

The government will rest on his shoulders.

And he will be called:

Wonderful Counselor,#

Or Wonderful, Counselor.

Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7His government and its peace

will never end.

He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David

for all eternity.

The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies

will make this happen!

The Lord’s Anger against Israel

8The Lord has spoken out against Jacob;

his judgment has fallen upon Israel.

9And the people of Israel#

Hebrew of Ephraim, referring to the northern kingdom of Israel.

and Samaria,

who spoke with such pride and arrogance,

will soon know it.

10They said, “We will replace the broken bricks of our ruins with finished stone,

and replant the felled sycamore-fig trees with cedars.”

11But the Lord will bring Rezin’s enemies against Israel

and stir up all their foes.