Isaiah 8:19-9:7

New International Version

The Darkness Turns to Light

¹⁹When someone tells you to consult^(A) mediums and spiritists,^(B) who whisper and mutter,^(C) should not a people inquire^(D) of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? ²⁰Consult God’s instruction^(E) and the testimony of warning.^(F) If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light^(G) of dawn. ²¹Distressed and hungry,^(H) they will roam through the land;^(I) when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse^(J) their king and their God. ²²Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom,^(K) and they will be thrust into utter darkness.^(L)

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

²The people walking in darkness^(O)
    have seen a great light;^(P)
on those living in the land of deep darkness^(Q)
    a light has dawned.^(R)
³You have enlarged the nation^(S)
    and increased their joy;^(T)
they rejoice before you
    as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
    when dividing the plunder.^(U)
⁴For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,^(V)
    you have shattered^(W)
the yoke^(X) that burdens them,
    the bar across their shoulders,^(Y)
    the rod of their oppressor.^(Z)
⁵Every warrior’s boot used in battle
    and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,^(AA)
    will be fuel for the fire.
⁶For to us a child is born,^(AB)
    to us a son is given,^(AC)
    and the government^(AD) will be on his shoulders.^(AE)
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor,^(AF) Mighty God,^(AG)
    Everlasting^(AH) Father,^(AI) Prince of Peace.^(AJ)
⁷Of the greatness of his government^(AK) and peace^(AL)
    there will be no end.^(AM)
He will reign^(AN) on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice^(AO) and righteousness^(AP)
    from that time on and forever.^(AQ)
The zeal^(AR) of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this.