Isaiah 9

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.

However, it won't be as dark as it was during her trouble. In the beginning, he slightly troubled the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali. Later, he troubled her more severely near the sea, past the Jordan River, in Galilee where the nations lived.

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.

People who were in darkness have now seen a big light. Those living in a land of death's shadow have been brightened by this light.

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.

You have made the population bigger, but didn't increase their happiness. They are happy when they see a good harvest, just like people who celebrate after sharing the things they took from others.

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.

Because you have freed them from the heavy load they carried, and taken away the stick used on their shoulders by their oppressors, just like the day when Midian was defeated.

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.

In every fight, a warrior faces chaos and clothes stained with blood. But this will be different, involving fire and things that feed it.

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.

A special child is born to us, and we're given a wonderful son. He will rule with power on his shoulders. They call him Wonderful Advisor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and 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.

In his growing rule and lasting peace, he will sit on David's throne forever. His kingdom will be guided and established with fairness and righteousness. God will make this happen through his great power.

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

God gave a message to the people of Jacob, and it reached the nation of Israel.

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

And everyone will understand, both Ephraim and the people living in Samaria, who boast in their big hearts.

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

The bricks have collapsed, but we'll rebuild using carefully carved stones; the sycamore trees are gone, but we'll replace them with cedar trees.

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

So, the LORD will make Rezin's opponents attack him, and gather his enemies to fight against him.

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.

Before were the Syrians and behind were the Philistines, ready to destroy Israel completely. Yet God's anger persisted, and his actions continued.

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

People don't turn to the one who hurts them, nor do they look for the powerful Lord.

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

So, the LORD will remove from Israel leader and follower, branch and strong arm, all in one day.

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

The old and respected one is the leader, while the lying prophet is the tail.

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

The leaders make the people go wrong, and those who follow them are destroyed.

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.

So, God won't be happy with young people because they don't help others in need. Everyone lies and does bad things, and they say foolish stuff. God is still very angry and hasn't stopped punishing them yet.

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.

Wickedness is like a burning fire. It destroys bushes and thorns and spreads through forests, growing quickly like rising smoke.

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.

Because of God's anger, the land is in darkness, and people will be like kindling for a fire. No one will care about their brothers or sisters.

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:

And he will grab from his right side, be hungry, and eat from his left side. But they won't be full. They will all eat the flesh of their own arms.

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.

Manasseh and Ephraim will join forces against Judah. God's anger has not stopped; he continues to act.