3. God, you will cause the nation to grow.You will make the people happy.And they will show their happiness to you.It will be like the joy during harvest time.It will be like the joy of peopletaking what they have won in war.
4. Like the time you defeated Midian,you will take away their heavy load.You will take away the heavy pole from their backs.You will take away the rod the enemy uses to punish your people.
5. Every boot that marched in battle will be destroyed.Every uniform stained with blood will be destroyed.They will be thrown into the fire.
6. A child will be born to us.God will give a son to us.He will be responsible for leading the people.His name will be Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God,Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace.
7. Power and peace will be in his kingdom.It will continue to grow.He will rule as king on David’s throneand over David’s kingdom.He will make it strong,by ruling with goodness and fair judgment.He will rule it forever and ever.The Lord of heaven’s armies will do thisbecause of his strong love for his people.
8. The Lord sent a message against the people of Jacob.That message says that God will judge Israel.
9. Then everyone in Israel, even the leaders in Samaria,will know that God punished them.Those people, who are proud and who brag now, say this:
10. “These bricks have fallen,but we will build again with cut stones.These small trees have been chopped down.But we will put great cedars there.”
11. But the Lord will make the enemies of Rezin strong against them.He will stir up their enemies against them.
12. The Arameans come from the eastand the Philistines from the west.They will eat up Israel with their armies.But the Lord is still angry.His hand is still raised to punish the people.
13. But the people do not return to the one who struck them.They do not follow the Lord of heaven’s armies.
14. So the Lord will cut off Israel’s head and tail.He will take away both the branch and stalk in one day.
15. The elders and important men are the head.The prophets who speak lies are the tail.
16. Those who lead the people lead them in the wrong direction.And those who follow them will be destroyed.