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The .ix. Chapter.
5 He prophecieth of Christes natiuitie and dominion.
[unspec A] 1 THE people that wal∣ked in darknesse, haue seene a great light: As for them that dwell in the lande of the sha∣dowe of death, vpon them hath the light shined.
2 Thou hast multiplied the people, and not increased their ioy: *they reioyce before thee, euen as men make merie in haruest, and they be ioyfull as men that do deuide the spoyle [after the victorie.]
3 For thou hast broken the yoke of his burthen, the staffe of his shoulder, and the rod of his oppressour, as in the day of Madian.
4 And truely euery battayle that the warrier maketh, is done with confused noyse: and defiling their garmentes with blood [but this battayle] shalbe with burning and consuming of fire.
5 For vnto vs a (a) 1.1 chylde is borne, and vnto vs a sonne is geuen, vpō his shoul∣der doth the rule lye, and he is called with his owne name wonderfull, the geuer of counsell, the mightie God, the euerlasting father, the prince of peace.
6 He shall make no ende to encrease the rule & peace, and shall sit vpon the seate of Dauid, and in his kingdome, to order the same, and to stablishe it with equitie and righteousnesse from hence foorth for euermore: This shall the zeale of the Lorde of hoastes bring to passe.
[unspec B] 7 The Lorde sent a worde into Iacob, the same is come into Israel.
8 And all the people of Ephraim shall knowe, and they that dwell in Sama∣ria that say with pryde and high sto∣mackes [on this maner,]
9 The tyle worke is fallen downe, but we wyll buylde it with squared stones: the Mulberie timber is broken, but we shall set it vp agayne with Cedar.
•••• But the Lorde shall strengthen the enemies of Razin, and ioyne his aduer∣saries together against him.
11 The Syrians before, and the Phili∣stines behinde, and shall deuour Isra∣el with open mouth: After all this is not the wrath of the Lorde ceassed, but yet his hande stretched out styll.
12 For the people turneth not vnto hym that chastiseth them, neither do they [unspec C] seeke the Lorde of hoastes.
13 Therefore hath the Lorde rooted out of Israel both head and tayle, bough and reede in one day.
14 By the head, is vnderstande the sena∣tour and honourable man, and by the tayle, the prophete that preached lyes.
15 For the guides of this people are de∣ceauers, and those that be gouerned are vtterly lost.
16 Therefore shall the Lorde haue no pleasure in their young men, neither haue pitie of their fatherlesse and wy∣dowes: for they are altogether hypo∣crites and wicked, and al their mouthes speake folly: After all this is not the Lordes wrath ceassed, but yet his hand is stretched out styll. [unspec D]
17 For vngodlynesse burneth as a fire, and shall deuour bryers and thornes, and it shall burne as in the thicket of a wood, and [the wicked] aduaunce them selues, as the smoke is caryed vp.
18 Thorowe the wrath of the Lorde of hoastes is the lande full of darknesse, and the people be consumed as it were with fire: no man doth spare his bro∣ther.
19 But he robbeth on the right hande, and doth famishe, he eateth on the left hande, and he shall not haue inough: euery man shall eate the fleshe of his owne arme.
20 Manasses [shall eate] Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasses, and they both to∣gether shall eate Iuda: After all this is not the Lordes wrath ceassed, but yet his hande stretched out styll.