Study Desk

^[a]Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom^(a) for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,^(b) but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—

The people walking in darkness^(c) have seen a great light;^(d) on those living in the land of deep darkness^(e) a light has dawned.^(f)

You have enlarged the nation^(g) and increased their joy;^(h) they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.⁽ⁱ⁾

For as in the day of Midian's defeat,^(j) you have shattered^(k) the yoke^(l) that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders,^(m) the rod of their oppressor.⁽ⁿ⁾

Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning,^(o) will be fuel for the fire.

For to us a child is born,^(p) to us a son is given,^(q) and the government^(r) will be on his shoulders.^(s) And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,^(t) Mighty God,^(u) Everlasting^(v) Father,^(w) Prince of Peace.^(x)

Of the greatness of his government^(y) and peace^(z) there will be no end.^(aa) He will reign^(ab) on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice^(ac) and righteousness^(ad) from that time on and forever.^(ae) The zeal^(af) of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

The Lord has sent a message^(ag) against Jacob; it will fall on Israel.

All the people will know it— Ephraim^(ah) and the inhabitants of Samaria^(ai)— who say with pride and arrogance^(aj) of heart,

"The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with dressed stone;^(ak) the fig^(al) trees have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars.^(am)"

But the Lord has strengthened Rezin's^(an) foes against them and has spurred their enemies on.

Arameans^(ao) from the east and Philistines^(ap) from the west have devoured^(aq) Israel with open mouth. Yet for all this, his anger^(ar) is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.^(as)

But the people have not returned^(at) to him who struck^(au) them, nor have they sought^(av) the Lord Almighty.

So the Lord will cut off from Israel both head and tail, both palm branch and reed^(aw) in a single day;^(ax)

the elders^(ay) and dignitaries^(az) are the head, the prophets^(ba) who teach lies^(bb) are the tail.

Those who guide^(bc) this people mislead them, and those who are guided are led astray.^(bd)

Therefore the Lord will take no pleasure in the young men,^(be) nor will he pity^(bf) the fatherless and widows, for everyone is ungodly^(bg) and wicked,^(bh) every mouth speaks folly.^(bi) Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.^(bj)

Surely wickedness burns like a fire;^(bk) it consumes briers and thorns,^(bl) it sets the forest thickets ablaze,^(bm) so that it rolls upward in a column of smoke.

By the wrath^(bn) of the Lord Almighty the land will be scorched^(bo) and the people will be fuel for the fire;^(bp) they will not spare one another.^(bq)

On the right they will devour, but still be hungry;^(br) on the left they will eat,^(bs) but not be satisfied. Each will feed on the flesh of their own offspring^[b]:

Manasseh will feed on Ephraim, and Ephraim on Manasseh;^(bt) together they will turn against Judah.^(bu) Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.^(bv)

Woe^(a) to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees,^(b)

to deprive^(c) the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people,^(d) making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless.^(e)

What will you do on the day of reckoning,^(f) when disaster^(g) comes from afar? To whom will you run for help?^(h) Where will you leave your riches?

Nothing will remain but to cringe among the captives⁽ⁱ⁾ or fall among the slain.^(j) Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,^(k) his hand is still upraised.

"Woe^(l) to the Assyrian,^(m) the rod⁽ⁿ⁾ of my anger, in whose hand is the club^(o) of my wrath!^(p)

I send him against a godless^(q) nation, I dispatch^(r) him against a people who anger me,^(s) to seize loot and snatch plunder,^(t) and to trample^(u) them down like mud in the streets.

But this is not what he intends,^(v) this is not what he has in mind; his purpose is to destroy, to put an end to many nations.

‘Are not my commanders^(w) all kings?' he says.

‘Has not Kalno^(x) fared like Carchemish?^(y) Is not Hamath^(z) like Arpad,^(aa) and Samaria^(ab) like Damascus?^(ac)

As my hand seized the kingdoms of the idols,^(ad) kingdoms whose images excelled those of Jerusalem and Samaria—

shall I not deal with Jerusalem and her images as I dealt with Samaria and her idols?^(ae)'"

When the Lord has finished all his work^(af) against Mount Zion^(ag) and Jerusalem, he will say, "I will punish the king of Assyria^(ah) for the willful pride^(ai) of his heart and the haughty look^(aj) in his eyes.

For he says: "‘By the strength of my hand^(ak) I have done this,^(al) and by my wisdom, because I have understanding. I removed the boundaries of nations, I plundered their treasures;^(am) like a mighty one I subdued^[a] their kings.^(an)

As one reaches into a nest,^(ao) so my hand reached for the wealth^(ap) of the nations; as people gather abandoned eggs, so I gathered all the countries;^(aq) not one flapped a wing, or opened its mouth to chirp.^(ar)'"

Does the ax raise itself above the person who swings it, or the saw boast against the one who uses it?^(as) As if a rod were to wield the person who lifts it up, or a club^(at) brandish the one who is not wood!

Therefore, the Lord, the Lord Almighty, will send a wasting disease^(au) upon his sturdy warriors;^(av) under his pomp^(aw) a fire^(ax) will be kindled like a blazing flame.

The Light of Israel will become a fire,^(ay) their Holy One^(az) a flame; in a single day it will burn and consume his thorns^(ba) and his briers.^(bb)

The splendor of his forests^(bc) and fertile fields it will completely destroy,^(bd) as when a sick person wastes away.

And the remaining trees of his forests^(be) will be so few^(bf) that a child could write them down.

In that day^(bg) the remnant of Israel, the survivors^(bh) of Jacob, will no longer rely^(bi) on him who struck them down^(bj) but will truly rely^(bk) on the Lord , the Holy One of Israel.^(bl)

A remnant^(bm) will return,^[b](bn) a remnant of Jacob will return to the Mighty God.^(bo)

Though your people be like the sand^(bp) by the sea, Israel, only a remnant will return.^(bq) Destruction has been decreed,^(br) overwhelming and righteous.

The Lord, the Lord Almighty, will carry out the destruction decreed^(bs) upon the whole land.^(bt)

Therefore this is what the Lord, the Lord Almighty, says: "My people who live in Zion,^(bu) do not be afraid^(bv) of the Assyrians, who beat^(bw) you with a rod^(bx) and lift up a club against you, as Egypt did.

Very soon^(by) my anger against you will end and my wrath^(bz) will be directed to their destruction.^(ca)"

The Lord Almighty will lash^(cb) them with a whip, as when he struck down Midian^(cc) at the rock of Oreb; and he will raise his staff^(cd) over the waters,^(ce) as he did in Egypt.

In that day^(cf) their burden^(cg) will be lifted from your shoulders, their yoke^(ch) from your neck;^(ci) the yoke^(cj) will be broken because you have grown so fat.^[c]

They enter Aiath; they pass through Migron;^(ck) they store supplies^(cl) at Mikmash.^(cm)

They go over the pass, and say, "We will camp overnight at Geba.^(cn)" Ramah^(co) trembles; Gibeah^(cp) of Saul flees.^(cq)

Cry out, Daughter Gallim!^(cr) Listen, Laishah! Poor Anathoth!^(cs)

Madmenah is in flight; the people of Gebim take cover.

This day they will halt at Nob;^(ct) they will shake their fist^(cu) at the mount of Daughter Zion,^(cv) at the hill of Jerusalem.

See, the Lord, the Lord Almighty, will lop off^(cw) the boughs with great power. The lofty trees will be felled,^(cx) the tall^(cy) ones will be brought low.^(cz)

He will cut down^(da) the forest thickets with an ax; Lebanon^(db) will fall before the Mighty One.^(dc)