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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Isaiah 9: CEV
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
Isaiah 9
9
Unto Us a Child Is Born
(Matthew 4:12–17; Mark 1:14–15; Luke 4:14–15)
1Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those in distress. In the past He humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future He will honor the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations:
2The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death,
a light has dawned.#9:2 Cited in Matthew 4:15–16
3You 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.
4For as in the day of Midian
You have shattered the yoke of their burden,
the bar across their shoulders,
and the rod of their oppressor.
5For every trampling boot of battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
6For 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.
7Of the increase of His government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on the throne of David
and over his kingdom,
to establish and sustain it
with justice and righteousness
from that time and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will accomplish this.
Judgment against Israel’s Pride
8The Lord has sent a message against Jacob,
and it has fallen upon Israel.
9All the people will know it—
Ephraim #9:9 That is, the northern kingdom of Israel and the dwellers of Samaria.
With pride and arrogance of heart
they will say:
10“The bricks have fallen,
but we will rebuild with finished stone;
the sycamores have been felled,
but we will replace them with cedars.”
11The Lord has raised up the foes of Rezin against him
and joined his enemies together.
12Aram #9:12 That is, Syria from the east and Philistia from the west
have devoured Israel with open mouths.
Despite all this, His anger is not turned away;
His hand is still upraised.
Judgment against Israel’s Hypocrisy
13But the people did not return to Him who struck them;
they did not seek the Lord of Hosts.
14So the Lord will cut off Israel’s head and tail,
both palm branch and reed in a single day.
15The head is the elder and honorable man,
and the tail is the prophet who teaches lies.
16For those who guide this people mislead them,
and those they mislead are swallowed up.
17Therefore 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.
Judgment against Israel’s Unrepentance
18For wickedness burns like a fire
that consumes the thorns and briers
and kindles the forest thickets
which roll upward in billows of smoke.
19By the wrath of the Lord of Hosts
the land is scorched,
and the people are fuel for the fire.
No man even spares his brother.
20They 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.#9:20 Literally of his own arm
21Manasseh devours Ephraim,
and Ephraim Manasseh;
together they turn against Judah.
Despite all this, His anger is not turned away;
His hand is still upraised.
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The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee. This text of God's Word has been dedicated to the public domain.