Isaiah 9

1 ^{a9:1 This v. is 8:23 in the MT} But there will be no gloom for her who was ^{b9:1 So DSS; MT reads those who were} in distress. Formerly, he brought contempt to the region of Zebulun and the region of Naphtali, but in the future ^{c9:1 So DSS; MT reads the latter time} he will have made glorious the way of the sea, the territory beyond the Jordan—Galilee of the nations. ^{d9:1 Or gentiles}ISV — Isaiah 9:1

2 ^{e9:2 This v. is 9:1 in the MT} The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; for those living in a land of deep darkness, a light has shined upon them.ISV — Isaiah 9:2

3 You have increased the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice in your presence as they rejoice at the harvest, as they are glad when they’re dividing the spoils of war. ^{f9:3 1QIsaa MT lack of war}ISV — Isaiah 9:3

4 Now as to the yoke that has been ^{g9:4 Lit. yoke of} his burden, and the bar laid ^{h9:4 DSS The Heb. lacks laid} on his shoulder— the rod of his oppressor— you have broken it ^{i9:4 1QIsaa MT lack it} as on the day of Midiam. ^{j9:4 So 1QIsaa LXX; MT reads Midian; cf. Judg 7:8-25 2King 15:19; 16:8}ISV — Isaiah 9:4

5 For every boot of the tramping soldier in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be used for burning as fuel for a fire.ISV — Isaiah 9:5

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name is ^{k9:6 So 1QIsaa; MT 4QIsac read name will be} called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.ISV — Isaiah 9:6

7 Of the growth of his government and peace there will be no end. He will rule ^{l9:7 DSS MT lack He will rule} over his kingdom, sitting on the throne of David, to establish it and to uphold it ^{m9:7 So 1QIsaa, referring to the throne; MT reads it, referring to the kingdom} with justice and righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of the Heavenly Armies will accomplish this.ISV — Isaiah 9:7

8 “The LORD ^{n9:8 So 1QIsaa; MT reads Lord} has sent a plague ^{o9:8 So LXX; MT reads word; 1QIsaa can mean plague or word.} against Jacob, and it will fall on Israel;ISV — Isaiah 9:8

9 and all of the people were evil ^{p9:9 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read knew} — Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria— saying proudly with arrogant hearts:ISV — Isaiah 9:9

10 ‘The bricks have fallen, but we will build with dressed ^{q9:10 Or quarried} stones; the sycamore ^{r9:10 The sycamore fruit tree native to Israel bears figs} trees have been cut down, but we will replace them with cedars.’ ^{s9:10 i.e. a genus of coniferous evergreen in the family Pinaceae}ISV — Isaiah 9:10

11 But the LORD has raised adversaries ^{t9:11 So 1QIsaa MT LXX; other MT mss. read princes} from Rezin ^{u9:11 So 1QIsaa MT; LXX lacks from Rezin} against him, and he stirs up his enemies—ISV — Isaiah 9:11

12 Arameans from the east and Philistines from the west— and they devour Israel with open mouths! “Yet ^{v9:12 So 1QIsaa 4QIsac; the Heb. lacks Yet} for all this, his anger has not turned away, and his hand is still stretched out, ready to strike.” ^{w9:12 DSS MT lack ready to strike}ISV — Isaiah 9:12

13 “But the people have not returned to rely ^{x9:13 1QIsaa MT LXX lack to rely} on ^{y9:13 So 1QIsaa; MT reads toward; LXX reads until} him who struck them, nor have they sought the LORD of the Heavenly Armies.ISV — Isaiah 9:13

14 So the LORD has cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed in ^{z9:14 So 1QIsaa LXX; the The Heb. lacks in} a single day—ISV — Isaiah 9:14

15 the elder and the dignitary is the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail.ISV — Isaiah 9:15

16 For those who guide this people have been leading them astray, and those who are guided by them are swallowed up.ISV — Isaiah 9:16

17 Therefore the Lord does not have pity on ^{aa9:17 So 1QIsaa;MT LXX read rejoice over} their young men, and has no compassion on their orphans ^{bb9:17 Or fatherless} and widows, because each of them was godless and an evildoer, and every mouth spoke folly. “Yet ^{cc9:17 So 1QIsaa 4QIsac; the Heb. lacks Yet} for all this, his anger has not turned away, and his hand is still stretched out, ready to strike. ^{dd9:17 DSS MT lack ready to strike}ISV — Isaiah 9:17

18 “For wickedness has burned like a blaze that consumes briers and thorns; it sets thickets of the forest on fire, and skyward ^{ee9:18 Lit. upward} they swirl in a column of smoke.ISV — Isaiah 9:18

19 From ^{ff9:19 So 1QIsaa; MT reads By} the wrath of the LORD of the Heavenly Armies the land has been scorched, and the people have become like fuel for the fire; no one will spare his neighbor.ISV — Isaiah 9:19

20 They cut meat on the right, but they’re still hungry, and they devour also ^{gg9:20 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX lacks also} on the left, but they’re not satisfied; each devours the flesh of his own children. ^{hh9:20 So 4QIsae; or arms; 1QIsaa MT read offspring or arm; LXX reads arm}ISV — Isaiah 9:20

21 Manasseh devours Ephraim, and Ephraim devours Manasseh; together they are against Judah. “Yet ^{ii9:21 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX lack Yet} for all this, his anger has not turned away, and his hand is still stretched out, ready to strike.” ^{jj9:21 DSS MT lack ready to strike}ISV — Isaiah 9:21