Isaiah 9
9
1Even so, there will be no more darkness for those who suffered. In the past he humiliated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will bring honor to Galilee of the foreigners that is on the route that leads from Jordan to the sea.
2People walking in the dark will see a bright light; a light will shine on those living in a land of total darkness. 3You will make the nation grow enormously, and will make it extremely happy.#9:3. The verbs in this section (9:2-7) are in the past tense, but are translated here in the future tense, since this is an example of the “prophetic perfect” tense in which future actions are considered so definite they are stated as if they had already happened. The people will celebrate before you as people celebrate at harvest-time, as soldiers celebrate when dividing up what has been looted. 4For you will smash the yoke that burdens them down, the bar across their shoulders, and the oppressors' rod used to beat them just as you did when you defeated the Midianite army. 5For every army boot that noisily trampled people down, and every uniform soaked in blood—they are going to be burned, fuel for the fire.
6For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us. He will bear the responsibility to rule. He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7His rule and the peace he brings know no limits and will never come to an end. He will sit on David's throne and rule his kingdom, making it secure. He will operate from principles of justice and goodness, from the time he begins his rule and for all eternity. The Lord Almighty is determined to make this happen.
8The Lord has sent a message directed against Jacob, and its consequences will fall upon Israel. 9All the people will soon realize it—Ephraim and the people who live in Samaria. Proudly and arrogantly they say, 10“The brick buildings have collapsed, but we will rebuild them with dressed stone; the sycamore fig trees have been cut down, but we will replace them with cedars.”
11But the Lord has strengthened Rezin's enemies#9:11. Rezin's enemies would be the Assyrians. against Israel#9:11. “Israel”: supplied for clarity. and has encouraged them. 12Arameans from the east and Philistines from the west have greedily swallowed Israel up. In all of this he is still angry and his hand is still raised.#9:12. Meaning that in these events God is still displaying his anger and it is not over yet. Also in verses 17 and 21.
13But the people didn't return to the one who punished them; they didn't come to worship the Lord Almighty. 14So in just a single day the Lord will chop off Israel's head and tail, palm branch and reed. 15Elders and honorable people are the head, and prophets who teach lies are the tail. 16The people's leaders have misled them; those who were guided by them are confused. 17As a result the Lord isn't pleased with their young men, he has no compassion for their orphans and widows, because all of them are hypocrites and do what's evil—they all talk stupidly. In all of this he is still angry and his hand is still raised.
18For wickedness blazes like a fire, burning up brambles and thorns, setting the forest on fire, sending a column of smoke swirling upwards. 19The anger of the Lord Almighty burns the land. People are like fuel for the fire, and nobody tries to help anyone else.
20People destroy#9:20. “Destroy”: literally, “devour.” others on the right, yet they're still hungry for more; people destroy others on the left, but they're still not satisfied. In the end they even destroy themselves!#9:20. “Destroy themselves”: literally, “devour the flesh of their own arm.” 21Manasseh destroys Ephraim, and Ephraim destroys Manasseh. Together they turn to destroy Judah. In all of this he is still angry and his hand is still raised.
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Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com
Isaiah 9
9
1 #
Mt 4.15. But those who have suffered will no longer be in pain.#9.1 will … pain: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text. The territories of Zebulun and Naphtali in Galilee were once hated. But this land of the Gentiles across the Jordan River and along the Mediterranean Sea will be greatly respected.
War Is Over
2 #
Mt 4.16; Lk 1.79. Those who walked in the dark
have seen a bright light.
And it shines upon everyone
who lives in the land
of darkest shadows.
3Our Lord, you have made
your nation stronger.#9.3 stronger: Or “happy” or “larger.”
Because of you, its people
are glad and celebrate
like workers at harvest time
or like soldiers dividing up
what they have taken.
4You have broken the power
of those who abused
and enslaved your people.
You have rescued them
just as you saved your people
from Midian.#9.4 rescued … from Midian: The time when Gideon defeated the people of Midian in Jezreel Valley (see Judges 6–8).
5The boots of marching warriors
and the blood-stained uniforms
have been fed to flames
and eaten by fire.
A Child Has Been Born
6A child has been born for us.
We have been given a son
who will be our ruler.
His names will be
Wonderful Advisor
and Mighty God,
Eternal Father
and Prince of Peace.
7 #
Lk 1.32,33. His power will never end;
peace will last forever.
He will rule David's kingdom
and make it grow strong.
He will always rule
with honesty and justice.
The Lord All-Powerful
will make certain
that all of this is done.
God Will Punish Israel
8The Lord had warned the people of Israel, 9and all of them knew it, including everyone in the capital city of Samaria. But they were proud and stubborn and said,
10“Houses of brick and sycamore
have fallen to the ground,
but we will build houses
with stones and cedar.”
11The Lord made their enemies#9.11 their enemies: Hebrew “the enemies of Rezin.” attack them. 12He sent the Arameans from the east and the Philistines from the west, and they swallowed up Israel. But even this did not stop him from being angry, so he kept on punishing them.#9.12 so … them: Or “but he hasn't given up on them yet.” 13The people of Israel still did not turn back to the Lord All-Powerful and worship him.
14In one day he cut off their head and tail, their leaves and branches. 15Their rulers and leaders were the head, and the lying prophets were the tail. 16They had led the nation down the wrong path, and the people were confused. 17The Lord was angry with his people and kept punishing them, because they had turned against him.#9.17 and kept … against him: Or “but even though they had turned against him, he still had not given up on them.” They were evil and spoke foolishly. That's why he did not have pity on their young people or on their widows and orphans.
18Evil had spread like a raging forest fire sending thornbushes up in smoke. 19The Lord All-Powerful was angry and used the people as fuel for a fire that scorched the land. They turned against each other 20like wild animals attacking and eating everyone around them, even their own relatives.#9.20 their own relatives: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text. But still they were not satisfied. 21The tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh turned against each other, then joined forces to attack Judah. But the Lord was still angry and ready to punish the nation even more.
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.