1Yet the darkness shall not be according to the affliction, that it had when at the first he touched lightly the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, nor afterward when he was more grievous by the way of the sea beyond Jordan in Galilee of the Gentiles.
2The people that walked in darkness, have seen a great light: they that dwelled in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
3Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased their joy: they have rejoiced before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide a spoil.
4For the yoke of their burden, and the staff of their shoulder, and the rod of their oppressor hast thou broken, as in the day of Midian.
5Surely every battle of the warrior is with noise, and with tumbling of garments in blood: but this shall be with burning, and devouring of fire.
6For unto us a child is born, and unto us a Son is given: and the government is upon his shoulder, and he shall call his name, Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The prince of peace.
7The increase of his government and peace shall have none end: he shall sit upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to stablish it with judgment, and with justice, from henceforth, even forever: the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
8The Lord hath sent a word into Jacob, and it lighted upon Israel.
9And all the people shall know, even Ephraim, and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and presumption of their heart,
10The bricks are fallen, but we will build it with hewn stones: the wild fig trees are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.
11Nevertheless, the Lord will raise up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together.
12Aram before and the Philistines behind, and they shall devour Israel with open mouth: yet for all this his wrath is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
13For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the Lord of hosts.
14Therefore will the Lord cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush in one day.
15The ancient and the honorable man, he is the head: and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.
16For the leaders of the people cause them to err: and they that are led by them are devoured.
17Therefore shall the Lord have no pleasure in their young men, neither will he have compassion of their fatherless and of their widows: for everyone is an hypocrite and wicked, and every mouth speaketh folly: yet for all this his wrath is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
18For wickedness burneth as a fire: it devoureth the briers and the thorns, and will kindle in the thick places of the forest: and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke.
19By the wrath of the Lord of hosts shall the land be darkened, and the people shall be as the meat of the fire: no man shall spare his brother.
20And he shall snatch at the right hand, and be hungry: and he shall eat on the left hand, and shall not be satisfied: everyone shall eat the flesh of his own arm.
21Manasseh Ephraim: and Ephraim Manasseh, and they both shall be against Judah: yet for all this his wrath is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.