Dual Panel1The gloom <04155> will be dispelled <03808> for <03588> those who <0834> were anxious <04164>. In earlier <07223> times <06256> he humiliated <07043> the land <0776> of Zebulun <02074>, and the land <0776> of Naphtali <05321>; but now <0314> he brings honor <03513> to the way <01870> of the sea <03220>, the region beyond <05676> the Jordan <03383>, and Galilee <01551> of the nations <01471>.
2The people <05971> walking <01980> in darkness <02822> see <07200> a bright <01419> light <0216>; light <0216> shines <05050> on <05921> those who live in <03427> a land <0776> of deep darkness <06757>.
3You have enlarged <07235> the nation <01471>; you give <01431> them great <01431> joy <08057>. They rejoice <08055> in your presence <06440> as harvesters <07105> rejoice <08057>; as warriors celebrate <01523> when <0834> they divide up <02505> the plunder <07998>.
4For <03588> their oppressive <05448> yoke <05923> and the club <04294> that strikes their shoulders <07926>, the cudgel <07626> the oppressor <05065> uses on them, you have shattered <02865>, as in the day <03117> of Midian’s <04080> defeat.
5Indeed <03588> every <03605> boot <05430> that marches <05431> and shakes the earth <07494> and every garment <08071> dragged through <01556> blood <01818> is used <01961> as fuel <03980> for the fire <0784>.
6For <03588> a child <03206> has been born <03205> to us, a son <01121> has been given <05414> to us. He shoulders <07926> responsibility <04951> and is called <08034> <07121>: Extraordinary <06382> Strategist <03289>, Mighty <01368> God <0410>, Everlasting <05703> Father, Prince <08269> of Peace <07965>.
7His dominion <04951> will be vast <04766> and he will bring immeasurable <07093> <0369> prosperity <07965>. He will rule on <05921> David’s <01732> throne <03678> and over <05921> David’s kingdom <04467>, establishing <03559> it and strengthening <05582> it by promoting justice <04941> and fairness <06666>, from this time <06258> forward and forevermore <05769>. The Lord’s <03068> intense devotion <07068> to his people <06635> will accomplish <06213> this <02063>.
8The sovereign master <0136> decreed <07971> judgment <01697> on Jacob <03290>, and it fell <05307> on Israel <03478>.
9All <03605> the people were aware <03045> of it, the people <05971> of Ephraim <0669> and those living in <03427> Samaria <08111>. Yet with pride <01346> and an arrogant <01433> attitude <03824>, they said <0559>,
10“The bricks <03843> have fallen <05307>, but we will rebuild <01129> with chiseled <01496> stone; the sycamore fig trees <08256> have been cut down <01438>, but we will replace <02498> them with cedars <0730>.”
11Then the Lord <03068> provoked <07682> their adversaries <06862> to attack <05921> them, he stirred up <05526> their enemies <0341>–
12Syria <0758> from the east <06924>, and the Philistines <06430> from the west <0268>, they gobbled up <0398> Israelite <03478> territory. Despite all <03605> this <02063>, his anger <0639> does not <03808> subside <07725>, and his hand <03027> is ready to strike <05186> again <05750>.
13The people <05971> did not <03808> return <07725> to <05704> the one who struck <05221> them, they did not <03808> seek <01875> reconciliation with the Lord <03068> who commands armies <06635>.
14So the Lord <03068> cut off <03772> Israel’s <03478> head <07218> and tail <02180>, both the shoots <03712> and stalk <0100> in one <0259> day <03117>.
15The leaders <02205> and the highly respected <06440> <05375> people are the head <07218>, the prophets <05030> who teach <03384> lies <08267> are the tail <02180>.
16The leaders <0833> of this <02088> nation <05971> were misleading <08582> people, and the people being led <0833> were destroyed <01104>.
17So <03651> <05921> the sovereign master <0136> was not <03808> pleased <08055> with <05921> their young men <0970>, he took <07355> no <03808> pity <07355> on their orphans <03490> and widows <0490>; for <03588> the whole <03605> nation was godless <02611> and did wicked <07489> things, every <03605> mouth <06310> was speaking <01696> disgraceful words <05039>. Despite all <03605> this <02063>, his anger <0639> does not <03808> subside <07725>, and his hand <03027> is ready to strike <05186> again <05750>.
18For <03588> evil <07564> burned <01197> like a fire <0784>, it consumed <0398> thorns <07898> and briers <08068>; it burned up <03341> the thickets <05442> of the forest <03293>, and they went up <055> in smoke <06227>.
19Because of the anger <05678> of the Lord <03069> who commands armies <06635>, the land <0776> was scorched <06272>, and the people <05971> became fuel <03980> for the fire <0784>. People <0376> had no <03808> compassion <02550> on <0413> one another <0251>.
20They devoured <01504> on <05921> the right <03225>, but were still hungry <07456>, they ate <0398> on <05921> the left <08040>, but were not <03808> satisfied <07646>. People <0376> even ate <0398> the flesh <01320> of their own arm <02220>!
21Manasseh <04519> fought against Ephraim <0669>, and Ephraim <0669> against Manasseh <04519>; together <03162> they <01992> fought against <05921> Judah <03063>. Despite all <03605> this <02063>, his anger <0639> does not <03808> subside <07725>, and his hand <03027> is ready to strike <05186> again <05750>.