^2 [a](A)The people who walk in darkness
Will see a great light;
Those who live in a dark land,
The light will shine on them.
^3 (B)You will multiply the nation,
You ^(C)will ^[b]increase ^[c]their joy;
They will rejoice in Your presence
As with the joy ^[d]of harvest,
As people ^(D)rejoice when they divide the spoils.
⁴ For ^(E)You will break the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders,
The rod of their ^(F)oppressor, as ^[e]at the battle of ^(G)Midian.
⁵ For every boot of the marching warrior in the roar of battle,
And cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire.
⁶ For a ^(H)Child will be born to us, a ^(I)Son will be given to us;
And the ^(J)government will ^[f]rest ^(K)on His shoulders;
And His name will be called ^(L)Wonderful Counselor, ^(M)Mighty God,
Eternal ^(N)Father, Prince of ^(O)Peace.
⁷ There will be ^(P)no end to the increase of His government or of peace
On the ^(Q)throne of David and over ^[g]his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with ^(R)justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
^(S)The zeal of the Lord of armies will accomplish this.

“^(E)My soul ^[e](F)exalts the Lord,
⁴⁷ And ^(G)my spirit has rejoiced in ^(H)God my Savior.
⁴⁸ For ^(I)He has had regard for the humble state of His bond-servant;
For behold, from now on all generations will ^[f]call me ^(J)blessed.
⁴⁹ For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
And holy is His name.
^50 (K)And His mercy is to generation ^[g]after generation
Toward those who fear Him.
^51 (L)He has done ^[h]mighty deeds with His arm;
He has scattered those who were proud in the ^[i]thoughts of their hearts.
⁵² He has brought down rulers from their thrones,
And has ^(M)exalted those who were humble.
^53 (N)He has filled the hungry with good things,
And sent the rich away empty-handed.
⁵⁴ He has given help to His servant Israel,
^[j]In remembrance of His mercy,
^55 (O)Just as He spoke to our fathers,
^(P)To Abraham and his ^[k]descendants forever.”