1 But those who have suffered will no longer be in pain.
The territories of Zebulun and Naphtali in Galilee were once hated.
But this land of the Gentiles across the Jordan River and
along the Mediterranean Sea will be greatly respected.
2 Those who walked in the dark
have seen a bright light.
And it shines upon everyone
who lives in the land
of darkest shadows.
3 Our Lord, you have made your nation stronger.
Because of you, its people
are glad and celebrate
like workers at harvest time
or like soldiers dividing up
what they have taken.
4 You have broken the power of those who abused and enslaved your people.
You have rescued them
just as you saved your people
from Midian.
5 The boots of marching warriors and the blood-stained uniforms
have been fed to flames
and eaten by fire.
A Child Has Been Born
6 A child has been born for us.
We have been given a son
who will be our ruler.
His names will be
Wonderful Advisor
and Mighty God,
Eternal Father
and Prince of Peace.
7 His power will never end;peace will last forever.
He will rule David's kingdom
and make it grow strong.
He will always rule
with honesty and justice.
The Lord All-Powerful
will make certain
that all of this is done.
12 He sent the Arameans from the east and the Philistines from the west,
and they swallowed up Israel. But even this did not stop him from being angry,
so he kept on punishing them.
13 The people of Israel still did not turn back to
the Lord All-Powerful and worship him.
14 In one day he cut off their head and tail, their leaves and branches.
17 The Lord was angry with his people and kept punishing them,
because they had turned against him. They were evil and spoke foolishly.
That's why he did not have pity on their young people or on their widows and orphans.
18 Evil had spread like a raging forest fire sending thornbushes up in smoke.
19 The Lord All-Powerful was angry and used the people
as fuel for a fire that scorched the land.
They turned against each other
20 like wild animals attacking and eating everyone around them, even their own relatives.
But still they were not satisfied.
21 The tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh turned against each other,
then joined forces to attack Judah.
But the Lord was still angry and ready to punish the nation even more.
