In earlier times he 3 humiliated
the land of Zebulun,
and the land of Naphtali; 4
but now he brings honor 5
to the way of the sea,
the region beyond the Jordan,
and Galilee of the nations. 6
9:2 (9:1) The people walking in darkness
see a bright light; 7
light shines
on those who live in a land of deep darkness. 8
9:3 You 9 have enlarged the nation;
you give them great joy. 10
They rejoice in your presence
as harvesters rejoice;
as warriors celebrate 11 when they divide up the plunder.
9:4 For their oppressive yoke
and the club that strikes their shoulders,
the cudgel the oppressor uses on them, 12
you have shattered, as in the day of Midian’s defeat. 13
9:5 Indeed every boot that marches and shakes the earth 14
and every garment dragged through blood
is used as fuel for the fire.
9:6 For a child has been 15 born to us,
a son has been given to us.
He shoulders responsibility
and is called: 16
Extraordinary Strategist, 17
Mighty God, 18
Everlasting Father, 19
Prince of Peace. 20
9:7 His dominion will be vast 21
and he will bring immeasurable prosperity. 22
He will rule on David’s throne
and over David’s kingdom, 23
establishing it 24 and strengthening it
by promoting justice and fairness, 25
from this time forward and forevermore.
The Lord’s intense devotion to his people 26 will accomplish this.
9:8 27 The sovereign master 28 decreed judgment 29 on Jacob,
and it fell on Israel. 30
9:9 All the people were aware 31 of it,
the people of Ephraim and those living in Samaria. 32
Yet with pride and an arrogant attitude, they said, 33
9:10 “The bricks have fallen,
but we will rebuild with chiseled stone;
the sycamore fig trees have been cut down,
but we will replace them with cedars.” 34
9:11 Then the Lord provoked 35 their adversaries to attack them, 36
he stirred up 37 their enemies –
9:12 Syria from the east,
and the Philistines from the west,
they gobbled up Israelite territory. 38
Despite all this, his anger does not subside,
and his hand is ready to strike again. 39
9:13 The people did not return to the one who struck them,
they did not seek reconciliation 40 with the Lord who commands armies.