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.
1 Tauta, kas staigā tumsībā, ieraudzīs spožu gaismu. Pār tiem, kas dzīvo nāves ēnas zemē, atmirdzēs gaisma. 2 Tu vairosi tautu, Tu tai dosi lielu prieku, tā priecāsies Tavā priekšā kā pļaujamā laikā, kā priecājas, laupījumu dalot. 3 Jo viņu nastas jūgu un viņu iejūgu, un viņu dzinēja rīksti Tu esi salauzis kā Midiāna laikā, 4 un bruņojums tiem, kas taisās uz karu, un drēbes, kas asinīm aptraipītas, būs tikai laupījums ugunij, uguns tās aprīs. 5 Jo mums ir piedzimis Bērns, mums ir dots Dēls, valdība guļ uz Viņa kamiešiem. Viņa vārds ir: Brīnums, Padoma devējs, Varenais Dievs, Mūžīgais tēvs un Miera valdnieks. 6 Viņa valstība ies plašumā, un miers būs bez gala uz Dāvida troņa un Viņa ķēniņa valstībā, Viņam to nostiprinot un atbalstot ar tiesu un taisnību no šā laika mūžīgi. To darīs Tā Kunga Cebaota dedzīgums. 7 Tas Kungs ir vērsis vienu vārdu pret Jēkabu, un tas ir kritis zemē Israēlā. 8 Un to sajutīs visa tauta, Efraims un Samarijas iedzīvotāji, kas lielībā, augstprātībā un sirds uzpūtībā saka: 9 "Ķieģeļu mūri ir sagrauti, bet ar cirstiem akmeņiem mēs atjaunosim celtni. Zīda koki ir nocirsti, bet to vietā mēs stādīsim ciedru kokus!" 10 Tā deva Tas Kungs Recīna pretiniekiem virsroku un pamudināja Israēla ienaidniekus, 11 sīriešus austrumos un filistiešus rietumos, lai viņi ēstu Israēlu ar pilnu muti. Tomēr ar visu to nerima Viņa dusmas, un Viņa roka palika pacelta. 12 Bet tauta neatgriezās pie tā, kas to bija sitis, un nemeklēja To Kungu Cebaotu. 13 Tādēļ Tas Kungs nocirta Israēlam galvu un asti, zaru un stumbru, vienā dienā. 14 Vecaji un cienījamie - tie ir galva, bet pravieši, kas sludina melus, - tie ir aste, 15 Un šās tautas vadoņi tiešām ir maldinātāji: viņu vadītie ir postam lemti. 16 Tādēļ Tas Kungs nepriecājās par viņu jaunekļiem un nesaudzēja viņu bāreņus un atraitnes, jo tie visi ir bezgoži un ļaundari, un katra mute pauž zaimus. Tomēr Viņa dusmas nemitējās, un Viņa roka ir arvien augstu pacelta. 17 Jo bezdievība dega kā uguns, kas aprij ērkšķus un čūkslājus un aizdedzina meža biezokni, tā ka dūmi paceļas augstu gaisā. 18 No Tā Kunga Cebaota dusmām uzliesmoja visa zeme, tā ka tauta krita ugunij par ēsmu un par laupījumu, un cits citu nežēloja. 19 Viens rija pa labi un tomēr palika izsalcis, otrs ēda pa kreisi un tomēr nebija paēdis; ikviens ēda sava paša elkoņa miesu: 20 Manase Efraimu un Efraims Manasi, abi kopā gāja pret Jūdu. Tomēr Viņa dusmas nerima, un Viņa roka ir arvien vēl augstu pacelta.
