14 He will be a holy place;(A)
    for both Israel and Judah he will be
a stone(B) that causes people to stumble(C)
    and a rock that makes them fall.(D)
And for the people of Jerusalem he will be
    a trap and a snare.(E)
15 Many of them will stumble;(F)
    they will fall and be broken,
    they will be snared and captured.”

16 Bind up this testimony of warning(G)
    and seal(H) up God’s instruction among my disciples.
17 I will wait(I) for the Lord,
    who is hiding(J) his face from the descendants of Jacob.
I will put my trust in him.(K)

18 Here am I, and the children the Lord has given me.(L) We are signs(M) and symbols(N) in Israel from the Lord Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion.(O)

The Darkness Turns to Light

19 When someone tells you to consult(P) mediums and spiritists,(Q) who whisper and mutter,(R) should not a people inquire(S) of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? 20 Consult God’s instruction(T) and the testimony of warning.(U) If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light(V) of dawn. 21 Distressed and hungry,(W) they will roam through the land;(X) when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse(Y) their king and their God. 22 Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom,(Z) and they will be thrust into utter darkness.(AA)

[a]Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom(AB) for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,(AC) 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(AD)
    have seen a great light;(AE)
on those living in the land of deep darkness(AF)
    a light has dawned.(AG)
You have enlarged the nation(AH)
    and increased their joy;(AI)
they rejoice before you
    as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
    when dividing the plunder.(AJ)
For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,(AK)
    you have shattered(AL)
the yoke(AM) that burdens them,
    the bar across their shoulders,(AN)
    the rod of their oppressor.(AO)
Every warrior’s boot used in battle
    and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,(AP)
    will be fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born,(AQ)
    to us a son is given,(AR)
    and the government(AS) will be on his shoulders.(AT)
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor,(AU) Mighty God,(AV)
    Everlasting(AW) Father,(AX) Prince of Peace.(AY)
Of the greatness of his government(AZ) and peace(BA)
    there will be no end.(BB)
He will reign(BC) on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice(BD) and righteousness(BE)
    from that time on and forever.(BF)
The zeal(BG) of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this.

Footnotes

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

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