1 But those who have suffered will no longer be in pain. The territories of Zebulun and Naphtali in Galilee were once hated. But this land of the Gentiles across the Jordan River and along the Mediterranean Sea will be greatly respected.
War Is Over
2 Those who walked in the dark
have seen a bright light.
And it shines upon everyone
who lives in the land
of darkest shadows.
3 Our Lord, you have made
your nation stronger.
Because of you, its people
are glad and celebrate
like workers at harvest time
or like soldiers dividing up
what they have taken.
4 You have broken the power
of those who abused
and enslaved your people.
You have rescued them
just as you saved your people
from Midian.
5 The boots of marching warriors
and the blood-stained uniforms
have been fed to flames
and eaten by fire.
A Child Has Been Born
6 A child has been born for us.
We have been given a son
who will be our ruler.
His names will be
Wonderful Advisor
and Mighty God,
Eternal Father
and Prince of Peace.
7 His power will never end;
peace will last forever.
He will rule David's kingdom
and make it grow strong.
He will always rule
with honesty and justice.
The Lord All-Powerful
will make certain
that all of this is done.
God Will Punish Israel
8 The Lord had warned the people of Israel, 9 and all of them knew it, including everyone in the capital city of Samaria. But they were proud and stubborn and said,
10 “Houses of brick and sycamore
have fallen to the ground,
but we will build houses
with stones and cedar.”
11 The Lord made their enemies attack them. 12 He sent the Arameans from the east and the Philistines from the west, and they swallowed up Israel. But even this did not stop him from being angry, so he kept on punishing them. 13 The people of Israel still did not turn back to the Lord All-Powerful and worship him.
14 In one day he cut off their head and tail, their leaves and branches. 15 Their rulers and leaders were the head, and the lying prophets were the tail. 16 They had led the nation down the wrong path, and the people were confused. 17 The Lord was angry with his people and kept punishing them, because they had turned against him. They were evil and spoke foolishly. That's why he did not have pity on their young people or on their widows and orphans.
18 Evil had spread like a raging forest fire sending thornbushes up in smoke. 19 The Lord All-Powerful was angry and used the people as fuel for a fire that scorched the land. They turned against each other 20 like wild animals attacking and eating everyone around them, even their own relatives. But still they were not satisfied. 21 The tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh turned against each other, then joined forces to attack Judah. But the Lord was still angry and ready to punish the nation even more.
Mwana tanzwaligwa
1 Akungabe ne zhalima muna ibabo bakabe bali mu buyendasi. Mu tjibaka tjakapinda wakayisa pasi shango ye Zebhuloni ne shango ye Nafutali, koga mu misi imbeli unowolumbidza Galili shango ye zwitjaba imu tjekelo dze gungwa seli kwe Jorodani,
2 Bathu bakayenda mu zhalima,
bakabona tjedza tjikulu,
ibabo bakatjila mu shango ye mitutshi ye lufu,
tjedza tjakabapenyela.
3 Makawatsha itjaba,
mukapaphidza kushatha kwatjo,
banoshatha mbeli kwenyu,
se bathu beshatha ha bevuna zwidzwalo mu minda,
se balume beshatha ha bekobana thundu yabatapa.
4 Ngoti makavuna jokwi linobalemela,
ne ikombo tjinobaloba mathudzi,
shamu ye kubatshambilidza,
makakuthama sekwa makathama mu nsi we Midiya.
5 Ngoti shangu dze babhayani dzakashingisiwa mu ngwa,
ne zwiambalo zwakabumbuludziwa mu malopa,
zowolashigwa mu moto zwikathutidza moto.
6 Ngoti mwana tanzwaligwa,
mwana we tjilisana tampiwa,
mbuso unowobe mu mathudzi awe.
Unowodang'wa Nkumbuludzi Unotjenamisa,
Ndzimu Wakasima,
Tate nge kusingapele, Mambo we Kunyalala.
7 Mbuso uwe ne kunyalala,
zotalabudzika nge kusingapele.
Unowobusa mu tjigalo tja Dafite
ebaka mbuso uwe unowuthumbidza nge lebeswa nenge
ndulamo kudwila mu tjibaka itjetjo kuyenda kusingapele.
Kupisika kwa Yahwe Masimbawose kokuthama ikoku.
8 She badusa dama linobhayana na Jakubo,
ngono lawila Iziraela.
9 Bathu bose bakakuziba ikoku,
Ifureimi ne bagali be Samariya,
ibo banozwida, bezwikudza mu mimoyo yabo beti,
10 “Zwitina zwakakolomoka,
koga iswi towomusa nge mabgwe akabezhiwa,
mipaya yakatemegwa pasi,
koga iswi towoyimisa nge misida.”
11 Ndizo Yahwe banowobamusila zwita,
banowokuswanyidza zwita.
12 Baaramu ku bhezhuba ne Bafilisitiya ku golombedzo
bakamidza Iziraela nge nlomo wakaashama.
Kose ikoku akuzoshandula bushongola gwabo,
luboko gwabo gutjakamilikila kuloba.
13 Koga bathu abazoshandukila ku bali ibo bakabaloba,
kene kuli kushaka Yahwe Masimbawose.
14 Ndizo Yahwe banowothubula Iziraela nsholo ne mwise,
ne lutabi gwe nlala ne lushanga mu zhuba ling'ompela.
15 Sholotjena ne bana mamo ndibo nsholo, balebesambeli banodiya manyepkhwa ndibo mwise.
16 Ibabo banotungamila bathu ibaba bakabatungamilila ntome,
ibabo bakatungamigwa bakasala bakawumana.
17 Ndizo wali She abatoshathila bazhuzha babo
kene kuli kuhwila zogwadza siyang'wa ne tjilikadzi dzabo,
ngoti mmwe ne mmwe aana bundzimu, babiibi,
nlomo mmwe ne mmwe unoleba zwakabipa.
Nenguba kwakajalo kugwadzamoyo kwabo akuzopela,
luboko gwabo gutjakamilikila kuloba.
18 Mbipo inopisa se moto
unopisa kungubo ne mihwa,
unothuta ukapisa matjokotjoko e ishakana
tjikamilikila mu phepo tjili bhulubusi.
19 Shango inopisiwa
nge kugwadzamoyo kwa Yahwe Masimbawose,
ngono bathu ndibo banowobe hwuni dze moto,
akuna unowotjidza mmwe naye.
20 Banoja ku luji koga bakasala bana zhala zwabo,
bakaja ku lumeshwe koga bakasigutshike zwabo.
Mmwe ne mmwe unowoshanduka kaja mwana uwe.
21 Manase unowogwa na Ifureimi, Ifureimi kagwa na Manase,
bubili gwabo banowonginilila Juda.
Nenguba kwakajalo kugwadzamoyo kwabo akutowoshanduka,
luboko gwabo gutjakamilikila kuloba.