| English Standard Version | New International Version |
| 1But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. | 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 who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. | 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 multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. | 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 the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. | 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. |
| 5For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. | 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 shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. | 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 increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. | 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. |
| 8The Lord has sent a word against Jacob, and it will fall on Israel; | 8The Lord has sent a message against Jacob; it will fall on Israel. |
| 9and all the people will know, Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, who say in pride and in arrogance of heart: | 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, but we will build with dressed stones; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.” | 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 raises the adversaries of Rezin against him, and stirs up his enemies. | 11But the LORD has strengthened Rezin's foes against them and has spurred their enemies on. |
| 12The Syrians on the east and the Philistines on the west devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still. | 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. |
| 13The people did not turn to him who struck them, nor inquire of the LORD of hosts. | 13But the people have not returned to him who struck them, nor have they sought the LORD Almighty. |
| 14So the LORD cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed in one day— | 14So the LORD will cut off from Israel both head and tail, both palm branch and reed in a single day; |
| 15the elder and honored man is the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail; | 15the elders and dignitaries are the head, the prophets who teach lies are the tail. |
| 16for those who guide this people have been leading them astray, and those who are guided by them are swallowed up. | 16Those who guide this people mislead them, and those who are guided are led astray. |
| 17Therefore the Lord does not rejoice over their young men, and has no compassion on their fatherless and widows; for everyone is godless and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still. | 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. |
| 18For wickedness burns like a fire; it consumes briers and thorns; it kindles the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column of smoke. | 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. |
| 19Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts the land is scorched, and the people are like fuel for the fire; no one spares another. | 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. |
| 20They slice meat on the right, but are still hungry, and they devour on the left, but are not satisfied; each devours the flesh of his own arm, | 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 devours Ephraim, and Ephraim devours Manasseh; together they are against Judah. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still. | 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. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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