1 There will be no way for them to escape from this time of trouble.
The Future King
The land of the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali was once disgraced, but the future will bring honor to this region, from the Mediterranean eastward to the land on the other side of the Jordan, and even to Galilee itself, where the foreigners live.
2 The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light.
They lived in a land of shadows,
but now light is shining on them.
3 You have given them great joy, Lord;
you have made them happy.
They rejoice in what you have done,
as people rejoice when they harvest grain
or when they divide captured wealth.
4 For you have broken the yoke that burdened them
and the rod that beat their shoulders.
You have defeated the nation
that oppressed and exploited your people,
just as you defeated the army of Midian long ago.
5 The boots of the invading army
and all their bloodstained clothing
will be destroyed by fire.
6 A child is born to us!
A son is given to us!
And he will be our ruler.
He will be called, “Wonderful Counselor,”
“Mighty God,” “Eternal Father,”
“Prince of Peace.”
7 His royal power will continue to grow;
his kingdom will always be at peace.
He will rule as King David's successor,
basing his power on right and justice,
from now until the end of time.
The Lord Almighty is determined to do all this.
The Lord Will Punish Israel
8 The Lord has pronounced judgment on the kingdom of Israel, on the descendants of Jacob. 9 All the people of Israel, everyone who lives in the city of Samaria, will know that he has done this. Now they are proud and arrogant. They say, 10 “The brick buildings have fallen down, but we will replace them with stone buildings. The beams of sycamore wood have been cut down, but we will replace them with the finest cedar.”
11 The Lord has stirred up their enemies to attack them. 12 Syria on the east and Philistia on the west have opened their mouths to devour Israel. Yet even so the Lord's anger is not ended; his hand is still stretched out to punish.
13 The people of Israel have not repented; even though the Lord Almighty has punished them, they have not returned to him. 14 In a single day the Lord will punish Israel's leaders and its people; he will cut them off, head and tail. 15 The old and honorable men are the head—and the tail is the prophets whose teachings are lies! 16 Those who lead these people have misled them and totally confused them. 17 And so the Lord will not let any of the young men escape, and he will not show pity on any of the widows and orphans, because all the people are godless and wicked and everything they say is evil. Yet even so the Lord's anger will not be ended, but his hand will still be stretched out to punish.
18 The wickedness of the people burns like a fire that destroys thorn bushes and thistles. It burns like a forest fire that sends up columns of smoke. 19 Because the Lord Almighty is angry, his punishment burns like a fire throughout the land and destroys the people, and it is each of us for ourselves. 20 Everywhere in the country people snatch and eat any bit of food they can find, but their hunger is never satisfied. They even eat their own children! 21 The people of Manasseh and the people of Ephraim attack each other, and together they attack Judah. Yet even so the Lord's anger is not ended; his hand is still stretched out to punish.
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.
