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.
War Is Over
2 Those who walked in the dark
have seen a bright light.
And it shines upon everyone
who lives in the land
of darkest shadows.
3 Our Lord, you have made
your nation stronger.
Because of you, its people
are glad and celebrate
like workers at harvest time
or like soldiers dividing up
what they have taken.
4 You have broken the power
of those who abused
and enslaved your people.
You have rescued them
just as you saved your people
from Midian.
5 The boots of marching warriors
and the blood-stained uniforms
have been fed to flames
and eaten by fire.
A Child Has Been Born
6 A child has been born for us.
We have been given a son
who will be our ruler.
His names will be
Wonderful Advisor
and Mighty God,
Eternal Father
and Prince of Peace.
7 His power will never end;
peace will last forever.
He will rule David's kingdom
and make it grow strong.
He will always rule
with honesty and justice.
The Lord All-Powerful
will make certain
that all of this is done.
God Will Punish Israel
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 sycamore
have fallen to the ground,
but we will build houses
with 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.
“Bērns mums ir dzimis”
(Jes 11:1–9)1 Tauta, kas staigāja tumsā, redzēs varenu gaismu,
tumsības zemes mītniekiem atspīdēs gaisma!
2 To tautu tu vairosi, darīsi lielu prieku,
tie priecāsies tavā priekšā,
kā mēdz priecāties par ražu,
kā gavilē, dalot laupījumu!
3 To jūgu, ko tā nes,
un nūju, kas tai uz pleciem,
spieķi, kas rokā apspiedējiem, –
tu satrieksi kā Midjāna dienās!
4 Visi tie zābaki, kas kaujā mīdās,
un drānas, kas asinīs novārtītas,
sadegs par barību ugunij!
5 Jo bērns mums ir dzimis, mums ir dots dēls,
vara uz viņa pleciem, un viņu sauks vārdā –
Brīnišķais padomdevējs,
Varonis Dievs,
Mūžīgais tēvs,
Miera princis.
6 Pletīsies viņa vara, nebeigsies miers
Dāvida tronim un viņa valstij,
lai celtu to, balstītu to
ar tiesu un taisnību
no šī mirkļa uz mūžiem –
Pulku Kunga kvēle to paveiks!
Dieva dusmas par Israēla lepnību
7 Šo Kungs teicis par Jēkabu,
un tas notiks Israēlam!
8 Zinās visa tauta –
Efraims un samarieši,
kas savā sirds lielībā saka:
9 “Ķieģeļi sakrituši,
bet tēstus akmeņus uzcelsim!
Mežavīģes nocirstas, bet ciedrus mēs ataudzēsim!”
10 Tad Kungs ļāva,
ka sokas viņu naidniekam Recīnam,
viņu naidniekus sakūdīja –
11 aramieši austrumos,
filistieši rietumos
rij Israēlu pilnām mutēm –
pat tad viņa dusmas nenorima,
vēl pacelta viņa roka!
12 Bet tauta neatgriezās
pie tā, kas to bija sitis,
Pulku Kungu nemeklēja.
13 Kungs nocirta Israēlam galvu un asti,
stalto palmu un niedri vienā dienā –
14 vecajie un godājamie ir galva,
un pravieši, kas māca melus, ir aste!
15 Tie, kas vada šo tautu, to viļ,
viņu vadītie tiks aprīti!
16 Tādēļ par tās jaunekļiem Kungs nepriecājas,
tās bāreņus un atraitnes viņš nežēlo,
jo tie visi – bezgoži un ļaundari,
ik mute muļķību gvelž –
tādēļ viņa dusmas nav aprimušas,
vēl izstiepta viņa roka!
17 Kā uguns deg ļaundarība,
rij ērkšķus un dzelkšņus,
meža biezokņus aizdedzina,
tie izkūp dūmu mutulī.
18 Pulku Kunga dusmas pārpelno zemi,
tauta top par ēsmu ugunij,
neviens nesaudzē otru!
19 Pa labi tie graiza – bet badā,
pa kreisi tie rij – bet sāta nav,
viens otra miesu tie rij!
20 Manase rij Efraimu, Efraims – Manasi,
kopā tie metas pret Jūdu –
tādēļ viņa dusmas nav rimušas,
vēl pacelta viņa roka!
