¶ Nevertheless the dimness¹ shall not be such as was in her vexation, when² at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward³ did more grievously afflict her by the way⁴ of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations⁵.

The people that walked⁶ in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land⁷ of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

Thou hast multiplied⁸ the nation, and not increased the joy⁹: they joy before thee according¹⁰ to the joy in harvest, and as men¹¹ rejoice when they divide the spoil.

For thou hast broken¹² the yoke of his burden, and the staff¹³ of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day¹⁴ of Midian.

For every battle¹⁵ of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be¹⁶ with burning and fuel¹⁷ of fire.

For unto¹⁸ us a child is born, unto us a son¹⁹ is given: and the government²⁰ shall be upon his shoulder: and his name²¹ shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor²², The mighty God²³, The everlasting Father²⁴, The Prince of Peace²⁵.

Of the increase²⁶ of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it²⁷ with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal²⁸ of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

¶ The Lord sent a word²⁹ into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.

And all³⁰ the people shall know, even Ephraim³¹ and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride³² and stoutness of heart,

¶ The bricks³³ are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.

Therefore the LORD shall set up³⁴ the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join³⁵ his enemies together;

The Syrians³⁶ before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel³⁷ with open mouth³⁸. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

For the people³⁹ turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither⁴⁰ do they seek the LORD of hosts.

Therefore the LORD will cut⁴¹ off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day⁴².

The ancient⁴³ and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet⁴⁴ that teacheth lies, he is the tail.

For the leaders⁴⁵ of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them⁴⁶ are destroyed⁴⁷.

Therefore the Lord shall have no joy⁴⁸ in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every⁴⁹ one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth⁵⁰ speaketh folly⁵¹. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

For wickedness⁵² burneth as the fire: it shall⁵³ devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle⁵⁴ in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount⁵⁵ up like the lifting up of smoke.

Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts is the land⁵⁶ darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel⁵⁷ of the fire: no man⁵⁸ shall spare his brother.

¶ And he⁵⁹ shall snatch⁶⁰ on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:

Manasseh, Ephraim⁶¹; and Ephraim, Manasseh: and they together shall be against Judah. For all this⁶² his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.