1 But those who have suffered will no longer be in pain. 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.
2 Those who walked in the darkhave seen a bright light.And it shines upon everyonewho lives in the landof darkest shadows.
3 Our Lord, you have madeyour nation stronger.Because of you, its peopleare glad and celebratelike workers at harvest timeor like soldiers dividing upwhat they have taken.
4 You have broken the powerof those who abusedand enslaved your people.You have rescued themjust as you saved your peoplefrom Midian.
5 The boots of marching warriorsand the blood-stained uniformshave been fed to flamesand eaten by fire.
6 A child has been born for us.We have been given a sonwho will be our ruler.His names will beWonderful Advisorand Mighty God,Eternal Fatherand Prince of Peace.
7 His power will never end;peace will last forever.He will rule David's kingdomand make it grow strong.He will always rulewith honesty and justice.The Lord All-Powerfulwill make certainthat all of this is done.
8 The Lord had warned the people of Israel,
9 and 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 sycamorehave fallen to the ground,but we will build houseswith stones and cedar.”
11 The Lord made their enemies attack them.
12 He 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.
13 The people of Israel still did not turn back to the Lord All-Powerful and worship him.
14 In one day he cut off their head and tail, their leaves and branches.
15 Their rulers and leaders were the head, and the lying prophets were the tail.
16 They had led the nation down the wrong path, and the people were confused.
17 The Lord was angry with his people and kept punishing them, because they had turned against him. They were evil and spoke foolishly. That's why he did not have pity on their young people or on their widows and orphans.
18 Evil had spread like a raging forest fire sending thornbushes up in smoke.
19 The Lord All-Powerful was angry and used the people as fuel for a fire that scorched the land. They turned against each other
20 like wild animals attacking and eating everyone around them, even their own relatives. But still they were not satisfied.
21 The 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.