“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!
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.
