Isaiah 9 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

Still, there will be no more gloom for the land that was crushed. In earlier days he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in days to come he will bring honor to the road by the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light. Those living in a land of death-shadow — light has broken over them.

You have multiplied the nation, you have made its joy immense. They celebrate in your presence the way people celebrate at harvest, the way soldiers shout when dividing what they've won.

Because the yoke that weighed them down, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of the one who drove them — you have shattered these like the day Midian fell.

Every boot that stamped in battle-thunder, every cloak rolled in blood — all of it will be fuel for fire, consumed by flames.

Because a child has been born for us, a son has been given to us, and the weight of governance rests on his shoulders. He will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

His governance and his peace will grow without end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing it and sustaining it with justice and with what is right, from now until forever. The fierce devotion of Yahweh of Armies will accomplish this.

The Lord has sent a word against Jacob, and it has fallen on Israel.

And all the people will know it — Ephraim and those who live in Samaria — who say with swelling pride:

"The bricks have fallen, but we will build with cut stone. The sycamores have been chopped down, but we will replace them with cedars."

So Yahweh has raised up Rezin's enemies against him and stirred up his foes —

Aram from the east and the Philistines from the west — they devour Israel with open mouths. Even after all this, his anger has not turned away; his hand is still stretched out.

But the people have not returned to the one who struck them; they have not sought Yahweh of Armies.

So Yahweh has cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed, in a single day.

The elder and the dignitary — they are the head. The prophet who teaches lies — he is the tail.

Those who guide this people have led them astray, and those who are guided by them are swallowed up.

That is why the Lord takes no pleasure in their young men, and has no compassion on their orphans and widows — because every one of them is godless and speaks what is foul, and every mouth speaks foolishness. Even after all this, his anger has not turned away; his hand is still stretched out.

Because wickedness burns like fire; it devours thorns and thistles, it sets the thickets of the forest ablaze, and they spiral upward in columns of smoke.

By the fury of Yahweh of Armies the land is scorched, and the people are fuel for fire. No one spares even their own brother.

They carve off meat on the right but are still hungry; they devour on the left but are never full. Each one feeds on the flesh of their own arm — Manasseh against Ephraim, Ephraim against Manasseh, and together they turn against Judah. Even after all this, his anger has not turned away; his hand is still stretched out.

Even after all this, his anger has not turned away; his hand is still stretched out.