1Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan— 2The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. 3You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. 4For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. 5Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. 6For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
The Lord’s Anger Against Israel
8The Lord has sent a message against Jacob; it will fall on Israel. 9All the people will know it— Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria— who say with pride and arrogance of heart, 10“The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with dressed stone; the fig trees have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars.” 11But the Lord has strengthened Rezin’s foes against them and has spurred their enemies on. 12Arameans from the east and Philistines from the west have devoured Israel with open mouth.
Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.
13But the people have not returned to him who struck them, nor have they sought the Lord Almighty. 14So the Lord will cut off from Israel both head and tail, both palm branch and reed in a single day; 15the elders and dignitaries are the head, the prophets who teach lies are the tail. 16Those who guide this people mislead them, and those who are guided are led astray. 17Therefore the Lord will take no pleasure in the young men, nor will he pity the fatherless and widows, for everyone is ungodly and wicked, every mouth speaks folly.
Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.
18Surely wickedness burns like a fire; it consumes briers and thorns, it sets the forest thickets ablaze, so that it rolls upward in a column of smoke. 19By the wrath of the Lord Almighty the land will be scorched and the people will be fuel for the fire; they will not spare one another. 20On the right they will devour, but still be hungry; on the left they will eat, but not be satisfied. Each will feed on the flesh of their own offspring⚓ : 21Manasseh will feed on Ephraim, and Ephraim on Manasseh; together they will turn against Judah.
Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.
9
Tus Vajntxwv uas Yuav Los
1Txawm li ntawd los yuav tsis muaj kev nyuaj siab rau cov neeg uas twb raug kev txomnyem los lawm. Yav tas los nws tau coj kev txajmuag los rau xeem Xenpuloos lub tebchaws thiab xeem Nathalis lub tebchaws, tiamsis yav tom ntej no mus, txij ntua ntawm ntug dej hiavtxwv Meditelanes sab hnubtuaj mus txog ntua lub tebchaws uas nyob sab ntug Dej Yauladees tim ub, thiab pem Kalilais uas cov neeg txawv tebchaws nyob, nws yuav ua kom lawv rov tau ntsejmuag.
2Cov neeg uas taug kev tsaus ntuj nti tau pom kev kaj nrig. Lawv nyob hauv lub tebchaws uas tsaus ntuj nti, nimno tshav ntuj ci kaj nrig rau lawv lawm. 3Tus TSWV, koj ua rau lawv muaj kev zoo siab heev, twb yog koj pub lawv tau zoo nyob kaj siab lug. Lawv txhua tus zoo siab kawg rau tej uas koj tau ua, ib yam li cov neeg uas zoo siab thaum sau qoobloo lossis zoo siab ib yam li thaum faib tej khoom uas mus txeeb tau los. 4Rau qhov koj twb muab tus quab uas tsuam lawv xubpwg, thiab muab tus nplawm uas luag nplawm lawv nraubqaum lov lawm. 5Txhua nkawm khau uas cov tubrog rau thiab lawv cov ris tsho uas lo ntshav yuav muab sau huv tibsi coj mus hlawv. 6Muaj ib tug menyuam twb los yug hauv peb cov lawm! Vajtswv muab ib tug tub pub rau peb! Thiab nws yuav ua tus kav pab, nws lub npe yuav hu ua “Tus Tuavxam, tus uas muaj Txujci, Vajtswv tus muaj hwjchim, Vaj Leej Txiv tus uas nyob mus ibtxhis, Vajntxwv tus uas muaj kev thajyeeb.” 7Nws kev tswjhwm yuav nthuav loj zuj zus, thiab kev thajyeeb yuav muaj tsis paub kawg nyob saum Daviv lub zwmtxwv thiab thoob plaws nws lub tebchaws. Txij no mus, nws yuav txhim kho lub tebchaws thiab tswjhwm mus rau qhov tseeb thiab coj ncaj ncees mus ibtxhis tsis kawg. Tus TSWV uas muaj hwjchim loj kawg nkaus txiav txim siab yuav ua raws li tej no.
Tus TSWV Yuav Rau Txim Rau Cov Yixalayees
8Tus TSWV txiav txim rau Yakhauj cov xeebntxwv thiab lub tebchaws Yixalayees. 9Txhua tus neeg yuav paub zaj no, cov Efalayees thiab cov neeg uas nyob hauv lub nroog Xamalis khavtheeb hais tias, 10“Tej thwvcib twb pob tas lawm, tiamsis peb yuav muab tej pobzeb los txhim rau; twb muab tej nqaj ntoo xikamaus txiav povtseg tas lawm, tiamsis peb muab tej nqaj ntoo thuv uas khov heev los hloov.” 11Tus TSWV tshoov lawv cov yeebncuab siab kom tuaj tawmtsam lawv. 12Cov Xilias uas nyob sab hnubtuaj thiab cov Filitees uas nyob sab hnubpoob rua lawv tej qhovncauj tuaj nqos haivneeg Yixalayees. Txawm muaj li ntawd los Vajtswv tseem chim rau lawv, thiab nws txhais tes tseem rau txim rau lawv tsis tseg. 13Txawm yog tus TSWV uas muaj hwjchim loj kawg nkaus twb rau txim rau cov Yixalayees lawm los lawv tseem tsis zeem thiab tsis tig rov los cuag tus TSWV li. 14Tus TSWV yuav ua ib hnub txiav cov Yixalayees tej taubhau, kotw, tej nplooj toovlaj thiab nplooj tauj kom tas huv tibsi povtseg. 15Tus neeg laus thiab tus muaj meejmom yog lub taubhau, thiab cov cev Vajtswv lus uas lawv qhia tej lus dag yog tus kotw! 16Cov neeg uas coj tsoom pejxeem no twb yog cov coj lawv yuam kev thiab txhua tus uas lawv coj puavleej raug luag nqos huv tibsi lawm. 17Vim li ntawd, tus TSWV thiaj tsis zoo siab rau lawv cov tub hluas, thiab nws yuav tsis hlub cov menyuam ntsuag thiab cov pojntsuam, rau qhov txhua tus puavleej tsis hwm tus TSWV thiab muaj lub siab phem kawg li, thiab tej lus uas lawv hais puavleej yog lus phem xwb. Vim yog muaj tej no tus TSWV thiaj chim, thiab nws txhais tes tseem rau txim tsis tseg rau lawv. 18Cov neeg ua phem tej kev txhaum cig ib yam li lub cubtawg kub tej ntoo pos thiab hmab pos thiab tej toj roob hauv pes ncho pa auv niab. 19Vim tus TSWV uas muaj hwjchim loj kawg nkaus chim heev, lub tebchaws thiaj raug kub hnyiab, tej neeg thiaj zoo li cov roj uas raug hluav taws kub, tsis muaj leejtwg yuav cawm tau nws tej kwvtij li. 20Cov pejxeem thoob tebchaws xawb txhua tsav yam los noj, tiamsis tsis tsau lawv plab; lawv tseem rov noj lawv cov menyuam! 21Cov Manaxes tawmtsam cov Efalayees thiab Efalayees tawmtsam cov Manaxes, thiab ob pab no sib sau tawmtsam cov Yudas. Vim tej no tus TSWV thiaj chim heev, thiab nws txhais tes tseem rau txim tsis tseg rau lawv.