Unto Us a Child is Born

(Matthew 4:12-17; Mark 1:14-15; Luke 4:14-15)

1As the former time made light The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, So the latter hath honoured the way of the sea, Beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

2The people who are walking in darkness Have seen a great light, Dwellers in a land of death-shade, Light hath shone upon them.

3Thou hast multiplied the nation, Thou hast made great its joy, They have joyed before Thee as the joy in harvest, As [men] rejoice in their apportioning spoil.

4Because the yoke of its burden, And the staff of its shoulder, the rod of its exactor, Thou hast broken as [in] the day of Midian.

5For every battle of a warrior [is] with rushing, and raiment rolled in blood, And it hath been for burning — fuel of fire.

6For a Child hath been born to us, A Son hath been given to us, And the princely power is on his shoulder, And He doth call his name Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace.

7To the increase of the princely power, And of peace, there is no end, On the throne of David, and on his kingdom, To establish it, and to support it, In judgment and in righteousness, Henceforth, even unto the age, The zeal of Jehovah of Hosts doth this.

Judgment against Israel's Pride

8A word hath the Lord sent into Jacob, And it hath fallen in Israel.

9And the people have known — all of it, Ephraim, and the inhabitant of Samaria, In pride and in greatness of heart, saying,

10‘Bricks have fallen, and hewn work we build, Sycamores have been cut down, and cedars we renew.’

11And Jehovah setteth the adversaries of Rezin on high above him, And his enemies he joineth together,

12Aram from before, and Philistia from behind, And they devour Israel with the whole mouth. With all this not turned back hath His anger, And still His hand is stretched out.

Judgment against Israel's Hypocrisy

13And the people hath not turned back unto Him who is smiting it, And Jehovah of Hosts they have not sought.

14And Jehovah cutteth off from Israel head and tail, Branch and reed — the same day,

15Elder, and accepted of face, he [is] the head, Prophet, teacher of falsehood, he [is] the tail.

16And the eulogists of this people are causing to err, And its eulogised ones are consumed.

17Therefore, over its young men the Lord rejoiceth not, And its orphans, and its widows He pitieth not, For every one [is] profane, and an evil doer, And every mouth is speaking folly. With all this not turned back hath His anger, And still His hand is stretched out.

Judgment against Israel's Unrepentance

18For burned as a fire hath wickedness, Brier and thorn it devoureth, And it kindleth in thickets of the forest, And they lift themselves up, an exaltation of smoke!

19In the wrath of Jehovah of Hosts Hath the land been consumed, And the people is as fuel of fire; A man on his brother hath no pity,

20And cutteth down on the right, and hath been hungry, And he devoureth on the left, And they have not been satisfied, Each the flesh of his own arm they devour.

21Manasseh — Ephraim, and Ephraim — Manasseh, Together they [are] against Judah, With all this not turned back hath His anger. And still His hand is stretched out!