9Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory.H4155H4164H6256H7223H7043H776H2074H776H5321H314H3513H1870H3220H5676H3383H1551H14712 The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.H5971H1980H2822H7200H1419H216H3427H776H6757H216H50503You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and its people will rejoice. They will rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest and like warriors dividing the plunder.H7235H1471H1431H8057H8055H6440H8057H7105H1523H2505H79984For you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders. You will break the oppressor’s rod, just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian.H2865H5923H5448H4294H7926H7626H5065H3117H40805The boots of the warrior and the uniforms bloodstained by war will all be burned. They will be fuel for the fire.H5430H5431H7494H8071H1556H1818H8316H3980H7846For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called. Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.H3206H3205H1121H5414H4951H7926H8034H7121H6382H3289H1368H410H5703H1H8269H79657His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!H4766H4951H7965H7093H3678H1732H4467H3559H5582H4941H6666H5704H5769H7068H3068H6635H6213
The Lord’s Anger against Israel
8The Lord has spoken out against Jacob; his judgment has fallen upon Israel.H136H7971H1697H3290H5307H34789And the people of Israel and Samaria, who spoke with such pride and arrogance, will soon know it.H5971H3045H669H3427H8111H559H1346H1433H382410They said, “We will replace the broken bricks of our ruins with finished stone, and replant the felled sycamore-fig trees with cedars.”H3843H5307H1129H1496H8256H1438H2498H73011But the Lord will bring Rezin’s enemies against Israel and stir up all their foes.H3068H7682H6862H7526H5526H341H552612The Syrians from the east and the Philistines from the west will bare their fangs and devour Israel. But even then the Lord’s anger will not be satisfied. His fist is still poised to strike.H758H6924H6430H268H398H3478H6310H639H7725H3027H518613For after all this punishment, the people will still not repent. They will not seek the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.H5971H7725H5221H1875H3068H663514Therefore, in a single day the Lord will destroy both the head and the tail, the noble palm branch and the lowly reed.H3068H3772H3478H7218H2180H3712H100H259H311715The leaders of Israel are the head, and the lying prophets are the tail.H2205H6440H5375H1931H7218H5030H3384H8267H218016For the leaders of the people have misled them. They have led them down the path of destruction.H833H5971H8582H833H110417That is why the Lord takes no pleasure in the young men and shows no mercy even to the widows and orphans. For they are all wicked hypocrites, and they all speak foolishness. But even then the Lord’s anger will not be satisfied. His fist is still poised to strike.H136H8055H970H7355H3490H490H2611H7489H6310H1696H5039H639H7725H3027H518618This wickedness is like a brushfire. It burns not only briers and thorns but also sets the forests ablaze. Its burning sends up clouds of smoke.H7564H1197H784H398H8068H7898H3341H5442H3293H55H1348H622719The land will be blackened by the fury of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. The people will be fuel for the fire, and no one will spare even his own brother.H5678H3068H6635H776H6272H5971H3980H784H376H2550H25120They will attack their neighbor on the right but will still be hungry. They will devour their neighbor on the left but will not be satisfied. In the end they will even eat their own children.H1504H3225H7457H398H8040H7646H398H376H1320H222021Manasseh will feed on Ephraim, Ephraim will feed on Manasseh, and both will devour Judah. But even then the Lord’s anger will not be satisfied. His fist is still poised to strike.H4519H669H669H4519H3162H3063H639H7725H3027H5186
Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory.H4155
