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黑暗中之光

但那受過困苦的,必不再見幽暗。以前 神使西布倫和拿弗他利地被輕視,日後卻要使它們在沿海之路、約旦河外和外族人的加利利,得著榮耀。(本節在《馬索拉文本》為8:23)

行在黑暗中的人民,

看見了大光;

住在死蔭之地的人,

有光照耀他們。(本節在《馬索拉文本》為9:1)

你使這國之民增多,

又加添他們的歡樂;

他們在你面前歡樂,

好像收割時的歡樂一樣;

又像人在均分戰利品時的快樂一般。

因為他們所負的軛和肩頭上的杖,以及欺壓他們的人的棍,你都折斷了,像在米甸的日子一樣。

因為戰士在戰爭喧嚷中所穿的靴,和輥在血中的袍,都必燒毀,成了燒火的燃料。

因為有一個嬰孩為我們而生,有一個兒子賜給我們;

政權必擔在他的肩頭上;

他的名必稱為“奇妙的策士、全能的 神、永恆的父、和平的君”。

他的政權與平安必無窮無盡地增加,

他在大衛的寶座上治理他的國,

以公平和公義使國堅立穩固,

從現在直到永遠。

萬軍之耶和華的熱心必成全這事。

耶和華向不悔改的子民發怒

主發出一個信息攻擊雅各家,

信息落在以色列家。

所有的人民,就是以法蓮和撒瑪利亞的居民,

都要知道這事;

他們憑著驕傲和自大的心說:

10 “磚牆倒塌了,

我們就用鑿好的石頭來建築;

桑樹砍倒了,

我們就用香柏樹替換。”

11 因此,耶和華必興起利汛的敵人來攻擊以色列,

並且要激動以色列的仇敵。

12 東有亞蘭人,西有非利士人;

他們張開口來要吞滅以色列。

雖然這樣,耶和華的怒氣還沒有轉消,

他的手仍然伸出。

13 這人民還沒有回轉、歸向那擊打他們的萬軍之耶和華,

也沒有尋求他。

14 因此,耶和華在一日之間,必從以色列中剪除頭和尾、棕枝與蘆葦。

15 長老和尊貴人就是頭;

用謊言教導人的先知就是尾。

16 因為那些領導這人民的,使他們走錯了路;

那些被領導的,都必一片混亂。

17 因此,主不喜歡他們的年輕人,

也不憐恤他們的孤兒寡婦;

因為他們各人都是不敬虔的,是邪惡的,

各人的口都說愚昧的話。

雖然這樣,耶和華的怒氣還沒有轉消,

他的手仍然伸出。

18 邪惡像火一般焚燒,

吞滅荊棘蒺藜,

連樹林中的密叢也燒起火來,

它們旋轉上騰,成了煙柱。

19 因著萬軍之耶和華的烈怒,地被燒毀,

人民成了燒火的燃料一般,

沒有人顧惜自己的兄弟。

20 有人在右邊切肉,仍然飢餓;

在左邊吞吃,仍然不飽足;

各人竟吃自己手臂的肉。

21 瑪拿西吞吃以法蓮,以法蓮吞吃瑪拿西,又一起攻擊猶大。

雖然這樣,耶和華的怒氣還沒有轉消,

他的手仍然伸出。

A New Day Is Coming

·But suddenly [or Nevertheless] there will be no more gloom for ·the land that suffered [or those who suffered/were distressed]. In the ·past [former time] God made the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali [C two northern tribes that bore the brunt of the Assyrian invasion] ·hang their heads in shame [humbled; humiliated], but ·in the future [later; afterwards] he ·will bring honor to [will glorify; L has honored/glorified; C the prophet sees the future as already fulfilled] the ·road along the Mediterranean Sea [L Way of the Sea], the land beyond the Jordan River [C probably Gilead in Transjordan], Galilee of the ·nations [Gentiles; C called this because it was overrun by foreigners]. [C Assyria created provinces from these three regions; though devastated in the invasion, they would be the first to see God’s salvation; Matt. 4:13–15.]

The people who ·lived [or are living/walking] in darkness,
    ·have seen [or will see] a great light.
On those who ·lived [are living/dwelling] in ·a dark land [or the shadow of death],
    a light ·has shined [or will shine].
God, you have caused the nation to ·grow [expand; enlarge]
    and ·made the people happy [increased their joy].
And they have ·shown their happiness to [L rejoiced before] you,
    like the joy during harvest time,
like the joy of people
    ·taking what they have won in war [L dividing the spoil/plunder].
Like the time you defeated Midian [Judg. 7–8],
    you have ·taken away [broken; shattered] their ·heavy load [L yoke of burden]
and the heavy ·pole [bar; staff] from their ·backs [or shoulders]
    and the rod ·the enemy used to punish them [of the oppressor].
Every boot ·that marched in battle [L marching with shaking]
    and every ·uniform [garment] ·stained with [L rolled in] blood
    ·has been thrown into [or will be used as fuel for] the fire.
A child ·has been [or will be; C the prophet views the future as though it had already happened] born to us;
    ·God has given a son [L a son has been given] to us.
    ·He will be responsible for leading the people [L The government/rule/dominion will be on his shoulder].
His name will be ·Wonderful Counselor [or Wonderful! Counselor!; or Extraordinary Advisor], ·Powerful [Mighty] God,
    ·Father Who Lives Forever [Eternal Father], Prince of Peace.
There will be no end to the ·growth [abundance; increase] of his ·rule [dominion; government],
    nor to the peace he will bring.
He will rule as king on David’s throne
    and over David’s kingdom [2 Sam. 7:11–16].
He will ·make it strong [establish and sustain it]
    by ruling with justice and ·goodness [righteousness]
    from now on and forever.
·The Lord All-Powerful will do this
    because of his strong love for his people [L The zeal/jealousy of the Lord Almighty/of Heaven’s Armies/T of hosts will accomplish this].

God Will Punish Israel

The Lord sent a message against ·the people of Jacob [L Jacob];
    it ·says that God will judge [L will fall on] Israel.
Then everyone in Israel, even ·the leaders [L Ephraim and those living] in Samaria,
    will know that God has sent it.
Those people are proud and ·brag [L arrogant of heart] by saying,
10 “These bricks have fallen,
    but we will build again with ·cut [hewn; dressed] stones.
These ·small trees [L fig trees; or sycamores] have been chopped down,
    but we will put great cedars there.”
11 But the Lord has brought the enemies of Rezin against them;
    he has ·stirred up [raised up; provoked] their enemies against them.
12 The Arameans [C Syrians] came from the east
    and the Philistines from the west,
and they ·ate up [devoured] Israel with ·their armies [or one bite; L the whole mouth].
But the Lord was still angry;
his hand was still ·raised to punish the people [L outstretched].

13 But the people did not return to the one who had struck them;
    they did not follow the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts].
14 So the Lord cut off Israel’s head and tail,
    taking away both the branch and stalk in one day.
15 The elders and ·important [respected; honored] men were the head,
    and the prophets who speak lies were the tail.
16 Those who led the people led them ·in the wrong direction [astray],
    and those who followed them were ·destroyed [swallowed up; or confused].
17 So the Lord ·is not happy with [or took no pity on] the young people,
    nor will he show ·mercy [compassion; pity] to the ·orphans [fatherless] and widows.
All the people are ·separated from God [ungodly; defiled] and are very evil;
    they all speak ·lies [or foolishness; folly].

But the Lord is still angry;
his hand is still ·raised to strike down the people [outstretched].

18 ·Evil [Wickedness] is like a small fire.
    First, it burns ·weeds [briers] and thorns.
Next, it burns ·the larger bushes [thickets] in the forest,
    and they all go up in a column of smoke.
19 The Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts] is angry,
    so the land will be burned.
The people are like fuel for the fire;
    no one will ·try to save [spare] his brother or sister.
20 People will ·grab something [or slice (meat); or devour] on the right,
    but they will still be hungry.
They will ·eat something [devour] on the left,
    but they will not be ·filled [satisfied].
Then they will each turn and eat their own ·children [or arm].
21 The people of Manasseh will fight against the people of Ephraim,
    and Ephraim will fight against Manasseh [C the two most prominent northern tribes; descendants of the two sons of Joseph, so brother fighting brother].
Then both of them will turn against Judah [the most prominent southern tribe].

But the Lord is still angry;
his hand is still ·raised to strike down the people [outstretched].

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

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

The Lord’s Anger Against Israel

The Lord has sent a message(AG) against Jacob;
    it will fall on Israel.
All the people will know it—
    Ephraim(AH) and the inhabitants of Samaria(AI)
who say with pride
    and arrogance(AJ) of heart,
10 “The bricks have fallen down,
    but we will rebuild with dressed stone;(AK)
the fig(AL) trees have been felled,
    but we will replace them with cedars.(AM)
11 But the Lord has strengthened Rezin’s(AN) foes against them
    and has spurred their enemies on.
12 Arameans(AO) from the east and Philistines(AP) from the west
    have devoured(AQ) Israel with open mouth.

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

13 But the people have not returned(AT) to him who struck(AU) them,
    nor have they sought(AV) the Lord Almighty.
14 So the Lord will cut off from Israel both head and tail,
    both palm branch and reed(AW) in a single day;(AX)
15 the elders(AY) and dignitaries(AZ) are the head,
    the prophets(BA) who teach lies(BB) are the tail.
16 Those who guide(BC) this people mislead them,
    and those who are guided are led astray.(BD)
17 Therefore the Lord will take no pleasure in the young men,(BE)
    nor will he pity(BF) the fatherless and widows,
for everyone is ungodly(BG) and wicked,(BH)
    every mouth speaks folly.(BI)

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

18 Surely wickedness burns like a fire;(BK)
    it consumes briers and thorns,(BL)
it sets the forest thickets ablaze,(BM)
    so that it rolls upward in a column of smoke.
19 By the wrath(BN) of the Lord Almighty
    the land will be scorched(BO)
and the people will be fuel for the fire;(BP)
    they will not spare one another.(BQ)
20 On the right they will devour,
    but still be hungry;(BR)
on the left they will eat,(BS)
    but not be satisfied.
Each will feed on the flesh of their own offspring[b]:
21     Manasseh will feed on Ephraim, and Ephraim on Manasseh;(BT)
    together they will turn against Judah.(BU)

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

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 9:1 In Hebrew texts 9:1 is numbered 8:23, and 9:2-21 is numbered 9:1-20.
  2. Isaiah 9:20 Or arm

Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.

For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.

And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart,

10 The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.

11 Therefore the Lord shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together;

12 The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

13 For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the Lord of hosts.

14 Therefore the Lord will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day.

15 The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.

16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.

17 Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

18 For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke.

19 Through the wrath of the Lord of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother.

20 And he 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:

21 Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: and they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.