Isaiah 9:8-10:11

New International Version

The Lord’s Anger Against Israel

⁸The Lord has sent a message^(A) against Jacob;
    it will fall on Israel.
⁹All the people will know it—
    Ephraim^(B) and the inhabitants of Samaria^(C)—
who say with pride
    and arrogance^(D) of heart,
¹⁰“The bricks have fallen down,
    but we will rebuild with dressed stone;^(E)
the fig^(F) trees have been felled,
    but we will replace them with cedars.^(G)”
¹¹But the Lord has strengthened Rezin’s^(H) foes against them
    and has spurred their enemies on.
¹²Arameans^(I) from the east and Philistines^(J) from the west
    have devoured^(K) Israel with open mouth.

Yet for all this, his anger^(L) is not turned away,
his hand is still upraised.^(M)

¹³But the people have not returned^(N) to him who struck^(O) them,
    nor have they sought^(P) the Lord Almighty.
¹⁴So the Lord will cut off from Israel both head and tail,
    both palm branch and reed^(Q) in a single day;^(R)
¹⁵the elders^(S) and dignitaries^(T) are the head,
    the prophets^(U) who teach lies^(V) are the tail.
¹⁶Those who guide^(W) this people mislead them,
    and those who are guided are led astray.^(X)
¹⁷Therefore the Lord will take no pleasure in the young men,^(Y)
    nor will he pity^(Z) the fatherless and widows,
for everyone is ungodly^(AA) and wicked,^(AB)
    every mouth speaks folly.^(AC)

Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,
his hand is still upraised.^(AD)

¹⁸Surely wickedness burns like a fire;^(AE)
    it consumes briers and thorns,^(AF)
it sets the forest thickets ablaze,^(AG)
    so that it rolls upward in a column of smoke.
¹⁹By the wrath^(AH) of the Lord Almighty
    the land will be scorched^(AI)
and the people will be fuel for the fire;^(AJ)
    they will not spare one another.^(AK)
²⁰On the right they will devour,
    but still be hungry;^(AL)
on the left they will eat,^(AM)
    but not be satisfied.
Each will feed on the flesh of their own offspring^[a]:
²¹    Manasseh will feed on Ephraim, and Ephraim on Manasseh;^(AN)
    together they will turn against Judah.^(AO)

Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,
his hand is still upraised.^(AP)

10 Woe^(AQ) to those who make unjust laws,
    to those who issue oppressive decrees,^(AR)
²to deprive^(AS) the poor of their rights
    and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people,^(AT)
making widows their prey
    and robbing the fatherless.^(AU)
³What will you do on the day of reckoning,^(AV)
    when disaster^(AW) comes from afar?
To whom will you run for help?^(AX)
    Where will you leave your riches?
⁴Nothing will remain but to cringe among the captives^(AY)
    or fall among the slain.^(AZ)

Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,^(BA)
his hand is still upraised.

God’s Judgment on Assyria

⁵“Woe^(BB) to the Assyrian,^(BC) the rod^(BD) of my anger,
    in whose hand is the club^(BE) of my wrath!^(BF)
⁶I send him against a godless^(BG) nation,
    I dispatch^(BH) him against a people who anger me,^(BI)
to seize loot and snatch plunder,^(BJ)
    and to trample^(BK) them down like mud in the streets.
⁷But this is not what he intends,^(BL)
    this is not what he has in mind;
his purpose is to destroy,
    to put an end to many nations.
⁸‘Are not my commanders^(BM) all kings?’ he says.
⁹    ‘Has not Kalno^(BN) fared like Carchemish?^(BO)
Is not Hamath^(BP) like Arpad,^(BQ)
    and Samaria^(BR) like Damascus?^(BS)
¹⁰As my hand seized the kingdoms of the idols,^(BT)
    kingdoms whose images excelled those of Jerusalem and Samaria—
¹¹shall I not deal with Jerusalem and her images
    as I dealt with Samaria and her idols?^(BU)’”

Footnotes

Isaiah 9:20 Or arm

1 Peter 5

New International Version

To the Elders and the Flock

5 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder^(A) and a witness^(B) of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed:^(C) ²Be shepherds of God’s flock^(D) that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be;^(E) not pursuing dishonest gain,^(F) but eager to serve; ³not lording it over^(G) those entrusted to you, but being examples^(H) to the flock. ⁴And when the Chief Shepherd^(I) appears, you will receive the crown of glory^(J) that will never fade away.^(K)

⁵In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves^(L) to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility^(M) toward one another, because,

“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.”^[a]^(N)

⁶Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.^(O) ⁷Cast all your anxiety on him^(P) because he cares for you.^(Q)

⁸Be alert and of sober mind.^(R) Your enemy the devil prowls around^(S) like a roaring lion^(T) looking for someone to devour. ⁹Resist him,^(U) standing firm in the faith,^(V) because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.^(W)

¹⁰And the God of all grace, who called you^(X) to his eternal glory^(Y) in Christ, after you have suffered a little while,^(Z) will himself restore you and make you strong,^(AA) firm and steadfast. ¹¹To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.^(AB)

Final Greetings

¹²With the help of Silas,^[b]^(AC) whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly,^(AD) encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.^(AE)

¹³She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark.^(AF) ¹⁴Greet one another with a kiss of love.^(AG)

Peace^(AH) to all of you who are in Christ.

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