² The people who had been living in darkness
    have seen a great light.
The light of life has shined on those who dwelt
    in the shadowy darkness of death.
³ And You, God, will make it happen. You bolstered the nation,
    making it great again. You have saturated it with joy.
Everyone in it is full of delight in Your presence,
    like the joy they experience at the harvest,
    like the thrill of dividing up the spoils of war.
⁴ For as You did back in the day when Midian oppressed us,
    You will shatter the yoke that burdens them,
You will lift the load that weighs them down,
    You will break the rod of their oppressor.
⁵ It’s true. All the fabric of war will go up in flames:
    the troops’ heavy boots that stamped us down and their blood-soaked garb
Will all be burned beyond recognition or use.
    There will be a new time, a fresh start.
⁶ Hope of all hopes, dream of our dreams,
    a child is born, sweet-breathed; a son is given to us: a living gift.
And even now, with tiny features and dewy hair, He is great.
    The power of leadership, and the weight of authority, will rest on His shoulders.
His name? His name we’ll know in many ways—
    He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Dear Father everlasting, ever-present never-failing,
    Master of Wholeness, Prince of Peace.
⁷ His leadership will bring such prosperity as you’ve never seen before—
    sustainable peace for all time.
This child: God’s promise to David—a throne forever, among us,
    to restore sound leadership that cannot be perverted or shaken.
He will ensure justice without fail and absolute equity. Always.
    The intense passion of the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies,
    will carry this to completion.