Hebrew Names Version HNV
The Message Bible MSG
1 But there shall be no gloom to her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zevulun and the land of Naftali; but in the latter time has he made it glorious, by the way of the sea, beyond the Yarden, Galil of the nations.
1
But there'll be no darkness for those who were in trouble. Earlier he did bring the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali into disrepute, but the time is coming when he'll make that whole area glorious - the road along the Sea, the country past the Jordan, international Galilee.
2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light: those who lived in the land of the shadow of death, on them has the light shined.
2
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. For those who lived in a land of deep shadows - light! sunbursts of light!
3 You have multiplied the nation, you have increased their joy: they joy before you according to the joy in harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
3
You repopulated the nation, you expanded its joy. Oh, they're so glad in your presence! Festival joy! The joy of a great celebration, sharing rich gifts and warm greetings.
4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as in the day of Midyan.
4
The abuse of oppressors and cruelty of tyrants - all their whips and cudgels and curses - Is gone, done away with, a deliverance as surprising and sudden as Gideon's old victory over Midian.
5 For all the armor of the armed man in the tumult, and the garments rolled in blood, shall be for burning, for fuel of fire.
5
The boots of all those invading troops, along with their shirts soaked with innocent blood, Will be piled in a heap and burned, a fire that will burn for days!
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be on his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Shalom.
6
For a child has been born - for us! the gift of a son - for us! He'll take over the running of the world. His names will be: Amazing Counselor, Strong God, Eternal Father, Prince of Wholeness.
7 Of the increase of his government and of shalom there shall be no end, on the throne of David, and on his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will perform this.
7
His ruling authority will grow, and there'll be no limits to the wholeness he brings. He'll rule from the historic David throne over that promised kingdom. He'll put that kingdom on a firm footing and keep it going With fair dealing and right living, beginning now and lasting always. The zeal of God-of-the-Angel-Armies will do all this. God Answered Fire with Fire
8 The Lord sent a word into Ya`akov, and it has lighted on Yisra'el.
8
The Master sent a message against Jacob. It landed right on Israel's doorstep.
9 All the people shall know, [even] Efrayim and the inhabitant of Shomron, who say in pride and in arrogance of heart,
9
All the people soon heard the message, Ephraim and the citizens of Samaria. But they were a proud and arrogant bunch. They dismissed the message, saying,
10 The bricks are fallen, but we will build with hewn stone; the sycamores are cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.
10
"Things aren't that bad. We can handle anything that comes. If our buildings are knocked down, we'll rebuild them bigger and finer. If our forests are cut down, we'll replant them with finer trees."
11 Therefore the LORD will set up on high against him the adversaries of Retzin, and will stir up his enemies,
11
So God incited their adversaries against them, stirred up their enemies to attack:
12 the Aram before, and the Pelishtim behind; and they shall devour Yisra'el with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
12
From the east, Arameans; from the west, Philistines. They made hash of Israel. But even after that, he was still angry, his fist still raised, ready to hit them again.
13 Yet the people have not turned to him who struck them, neither have they sought the LORD of Hosts.
13
But the people paid no mind to him who hit them, didn't seek God-of-the-Angel-Armies.
14 Therefore the LORD will cut off from Yisra'el head and tail, palm-branch and rush, in one day.
14
So God hacked off Israel's head and tail, palm branch and reed, both on the same day.
15 The elder and the honorable man, he is the head; and the prophet who teaches lies, he is the tail.
15
The big-head elders were the head, the lying prophets were the tail.
16 For those who lead this people cause them to err; and those who are led of them are destroyed.
16
Those who were supposed to lead this people led them down blind alleys, And those who followed the leaders ended up lost and confused.
17 Therefore the Lord will not rejoice over their young men, neither will he have compassion on their fatherless and widows; for everyone is profane and an evil-doer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
17
That's why the Master lost interest in the young men, had no feeling for their orphans and widows. All of them were godless and evil, talking filth and folly. And even after that, he was still angry, his fist still raised, ready to hit them again.
18 For wickedness burns as the fire; it devours the briers and thorns; yes, it kindles in the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column of smoke.
18
Their wicked lives raged like an out-of-control fire, the kind that burns everything in its path - Trees and bushes, weeds and grasses - filling the skies with smoke.
19 Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts is the land burnt up; and the people are as the fuel of fire: no man spares his brother.
19
God-of-the-Angel-Armies answered fire with fire, set the whole country on fire, Turned the people into consuming fires, consuming one another in their lusts -
20 One shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:
20
Appetites insatiable, stuffing and gorging themselves left and right with people and things. But still they starved. Not even their children were safe from their rapacious hunger.
21 Menashsheh, Efrayim; and Efrayim, Menashsheh; and they together shall be against Yehudah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
21
Manasseh ate Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh, and then the two ganged up against Judah. And after that, he was still angry, his fist still raised, ready to hit them again.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.