The Hebrew Prophets

As the former time made light The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, So the latter hath honoured the way of the sea, Beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

The people who are walking in darkness Have seen a great light, Dwellers in a land of death-shade, Light hath shone upon them.

Thou hast multiplied the nation, Thou hast made great its joy, They have joyed before Thee as the joy in harvest, As men rejoice in their apportioning spoil.

Because the yoke of its burden, And the staff of its shoulder, the rod of its exactor, Thou hast broken as in the day of Midian.

For every battle of a warrior is with rushing, and raiment rolled in blood, And it hath been for burning--fuel of fire.

For a Child hath been born to us, A Son hath been given to us, And the princely power is on his shoulder, And He doth call his name Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace.

To the increase of the princely power, And of peace, there is no end, On the throne of David, and on his kingdom, To establish it, and to support it, In judgment and in righteousness, Henceforth, even unto the age, The zeal of Jehovah of Hosts doth this.

A word hath the Lord sent into Jacob, And it hath fallen in Israel.

And the people have known--all of it, Ephraim, and the inhabitant of Samaria, In pride and in greatness of heart, saying,

`Bricks have fallen, and hewn work we build, Sycamores have been cut down, and cedars we renew.'

And Jehovah setteth the adversaries of Rezin on high above him, And his enemies he joineth together,

Aram from before, and Philistia from behind, And they devour Israel with the whole mouth. With all this not turned back hath His anger, And still His hand is stretched out.

And the people hath not turned back unto Him who is smiting it, And Jehovah of Hosts they have not sought.

And Jehovah cutteth off from Israel head and tail, Branch and reed--the same day,

Elder, and accepted of face, he is the head, Prophet, teacher of falsehood, he is the tail.

And the eulogists of this people are causing to err, And its eulogised ones are consumed.

Therefore, over its young men the Lord rejoiceth not, And its orphans, and its widows He pitieth not, For every one is profane, and an evil doer, And every mouth is speaking folly. With all this not turned back hath His anger, And still His hand is stretched out.

For burned as a fire hath wickedness, Brier and thorn it devoureth, And it kindleth in thickets of the forest, And they lift themselves up, an exaltation of smoke!

In the wrath of Jehovah of Hosts Hath the land been consumed, And the people is as fuel of fire; A man on his brother hath no pity,

And cutteth down on the right, and hath been hungry, And he devoureth on the left, And they have not been satisfied, Each the flesh of his own arm they devour.

Manasseh--Ephraim, and Ephraim--Manasseh, Together they are against Judah, With all this not turned back hath His anger. And still His hand is stretched out!

Woe to those decreeing decrees of iniquity, And writers who have prescribed perverseness.

To turn aside from judgment the poor, And to take violently away the judgment Of the afflicted of My people, That widows may be their prey, That the fatherless they may spoil.

And what do ye at a day of inspection? And at desolation? --from afar it cometh. Near whom do ye flee for help? And where do ye leave your honour?

Without Me it hath bowed down In the place of a bound one, And in the place of the slain they fall. With all this not turned back hath His anger, And still His hand is stretched out.