3. You will enlarge the nation of Israel,and its people will rejoice.They will rejoice before youas people rejoice at the harvestand like warriors dividing the plunder.
4. For you will break the yoke of their slaveryand lift the heavy burden from their shoulders.You will break the oppressor’s rod,just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian.
5. The boots of the warriorand the uniforms bloodstained by warwill all be burned.They will be fuel for the fire.
6. For a child is born to us,a son is given to us.The government will rest on his shoulders.And he will be called:Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7. His government and its peacewill never end.He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor Davidfor all eternity.The passionate commitment of the lord of Heaven’s Armieswill make this happen!
8. The Lord has spoken out against Jacob;his judgment has fallen upon Israel.
9. And the people of Israel and Samaria,who spoke with such pride and arrogance,will soon know it.
10. They said, “We will replace the broken bricks of our ruins with finished stone,and replant the felled sycamore-fig trees with cedars.”
11. But the lord will bring Rezin’s enemies against Israeland stir up all their foes.
12. The Syrians from the east and the Philistines from the westwill bare their fangs and devour Israel.But even then the lord’s anger will not be satisfied.His fist is still poised to strike.