1 Nevertheless the darkness shall not be as when the distress was in the {land}, at the time he at first lightly, and afterwards heavily, visited the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, -the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations:
2 the people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them light hath shone.
3 Thou hast multiplied the nation, hast increased its joy: they joy before thee like to the joy in harvest; as {men} rejoice when they divide the spoil.
4 For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.
5 For every boot of him that is shod for the tumult, and the garment rolled in blood, shall be for burning, fuel for fire.
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name is called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty *God, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with judgment and with righteousness, from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of Jehovah of hosts will perform this.
8 The Lord sent a word unto Jacob, and it lighteth upon Israel.
9 And all the people shall know {it}, Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in pride and stoutness of heart,
10 The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones; the sycamore trees are cut down, but we will replace them with cedars.
11 And Jehovah will set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and arm his enemies,
12 the Syrians on the east, and the Philistines on the west; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still.
13 But the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, and they do not seek Jehovah of hosts.
14 And Jehovah will cut off from Israel head and tail, palm-branch and rush, in one day:
15 the ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.
16 For the guides of this people mislead {them}; and they that are guided by them are swallowed up.
17 Therefore the Lord will not rejoice in their young men, neither will he have mercy on their fatherless and on their widows; for every one is a hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still.
18 For wickedness burneth as a fire: it devoureth briars and thorns, and kindleth in the thickets of the forest, and they go rolling up like a pillar of smoke.
19 Through the wrath of Jehovah of hosts is the land burned up, and the people is as fuel for fire: a man spareth not his brother;
20 and he snatcheth on the right hand, and is hungry, and eateth on the left hand; and they are not satisfied. They eat every man the flesh of his own arm:
21 Manasseh, Ephraim, and Ephraim, Manasseh; {and} they together are against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still.
1 但那受过困苦的， 必不再见幽暗。以前 神使西布伦和拿弗他利地被轻视， 日后却要使它们在沿海之路、约旦河外和外族人的加利利， 得着荣耀。（本节在《马索拉抄本》为8:23）
2 行在黑暗中的人民， 看见了大光； 住在死荫之地的人， 有光照耀他们。（本节在《马索拉抄本》为9:1）
3 你使这国之民增多， 又加添他们的欢乐； 他们在你面前欢乐， 好像收割时的欢乐一样； 又像人在均分战利品时的快乐一般。
4 因为他们所负的轭和肩头上的杖， 以及欺压他们的人的棍， 你都折断了， 像在米甸的日子一样。
5 因为战士在战争喧嚷中所穿的靴， 和辊在血中的袍， 都必烧毁， 成了烧火的燃料。
6 因为有一个婴孩为我们而生， 有一个儿子赐给我们； 政权必担在他的肩头上； 他的名必称为"奇妙的策士、全能的 神、永恒的父、和平的君"。
7 他的政权与平安必无穷无尽地增加， 他在大卫的宝座上治理他的国， 以公平和公义使国坚立稳固， 从现在直到永远。万军之耶和华的热心必成全这事。
8 主发出一个信息攻击雅各家， 信息落在以色列家。
9 所有的人民， 就是以法莲和撒玛利亚的居民， 都要知道这事； 他们凭着骄傲和自大的心说：
10 "砖墙倒塌了， 我们就用凿好的石头来建筑； 桑树砍倒了， 我们就用香柏树替换。"
11 因此， 耶和华必兴起利汛的敌人来攻击以色列， 并且要激动以色列的仇敌。
12 东有亚兰人， 西有非利士人； 他们张开口来要吞灭以色列。虽然这样， 耶和华的怒气还没有转消， 他的手仍然伸出。
13 这人民还没有回转、归向那击打他们的万军之耶和华， 也没有寻求他。
14 因此， 耶和华在一日之间， 必从以色列中剪除头和尾、棕枝与芦苇。
15 长老和尊贵人就是头； 用谎言教导人的先知就是尾。
16 因为那些领导这人民的， 使他们走错了路； 那些被领导的， 都必一片混乱。
17 因此， 主不喜欢他们的年轻人， 也不怜恤他们的孤儿寡妇； 因为他们各人都是不敬虔的， 是邪恶的， 各人的口都说愚昧的话。虽然这样， 耶和华的怒气还没有转消， 他的手仍然伸出。
18 邪恶像火一般焚烧， 吞灭荆棘蒺藜， 连树林中的密丛也烧起火来， 它们旋转上腾， 成了烟柱。
19 因着万军之耶和华的烈怒， 地被烧毁， 人民成了烧火的燃料一般， 没有人顾惜自己的兄弟。
20 有人在右边切肉， 仍然饥饿； 在左边吞吃， 仍然不饱足； 各人竟吃自己手臂的肉。
21 玛拿西吞吃以法莲， 以法莲吞吃玛拿西， 又一起攻击犹大。虽然这样， 耶和华的怒气还没有转消， 他的手仍然伸出。