chaldee-paraphraseapocrypha
Targum Isaiah 9
The Targum renders Isaiah 9 in two movements held in sharp tension. The first names the great light that came to the house of Israel out of Egypt's darkness — joy multiplied, the yoke of oppression broken as in Midian's day — and centers the Messianic announcement squarely on the house of David: a child born, a son given, who takes the law upon himself, whose name is called from the Wonderful Counsellor and the mighty God who lives to eternity, whose peace shall be great in his days and whose Davidic throne has no end. The second movement indicts Ephraim and Manasseh for pride and persistent rebellion — refusing the stroke, rejecting the instruction of the Lord of hosts — until their mutual strife and the nations brought against them like fire complete the judgment. The refrain strikes four times: they do not turn, His anger does not turn.
1
The people, the house of Israel, which walked in Egypt as in the darkness, went forth to see a great light. They that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
2
Thou hast multiplied the people, the house of Israel, unto them Thou hast multiplied the joy: they joy before Thee as the joy of the conquerors of battle, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
3
For Thou hast taken away the yoke of his dominion, and the government of oppression, the government wherewith he enslaved him is broken as in the day of Midian.
4
All their transactions are in wickedness; they are polluted with sins, as a garment dipped in blood, the marks of its filth cannot be purified; thus it is like something, in which there is no use, but to be burned in fire: thus He shall bring forth against them nations, who are mighty as fire, and they shall slay them.
5
The prophet said to the house of David, For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and he has taken the law upon himself to keep it. His name is called from before Him who is wonderful in counsel, the mighty God who liveth to eternity — the Messiah whose peace shall be great upon us in his days.
6
The greatness of those who do the law shall be magnified, and to those, that preserve peace. There shall be no end to the throne of David, and of his kingdom, to establish it and to build it in judgment and in righteousness from henceforth, even for ever. By the Word of the Lord of hosts this shall be done.
7
The Lord sent a word into the house of Jacob, and it was heard in Israel.
8
The people, all of them have become great; Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, that say in greatness and stoutness of heart,
9
The princes are carried captive; but we will appoint better ones than they. Treasures are plundered, but we will purchase more beautiful ones than they.
10
Therefore the Lord shall make strong the hatred of Rezin against him, and he will stir up his adversaries.
11
The Syrians from the east, and the Philistines from the west; and they shall spoil the treasures of Israel in every place. For all this they do not turn away from their sins, that His anger might turn away from them; but still they hold fast their rebellion, and yet His stroke will be to take vengeance on them.
12
And the people have not returned to the worship of God, from the time that He brought upon them the stroke; and they do not seek the instruction of the Lord of hosts.
13
And the Lord will destroy, from Israel the prince, the captain, the ruler, and the governor, in one day.
14
The ancient and honourable one, he is the head, and the scribe that teaches lies, he is the feeble one.
15
And those that praise this people cause them to err, and their princes swallow them up.
16
Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for all of them are hypocrites and evildoers, and all their mouths speak lies. For all this they do not turn away from their sins, that His anger might turn away from them; but still they hold fast their rebellion, and yet His stroke is ready to take vengeance on them.
17
The punishment of their sins shall burn like fire; it shall consume the sinners and the wicked, and shall rule over the rest of the people, and shall make an end of a great host.
18
Through the wrath from before the presence of the Lord of hosts the earth shall be burnt up, and the people shall be like the burning fuel of fire: no man shall spare his brother.
19
And he shall spoil on the south, and be hungry; and he shall destroy on the north, and not be satisfied: they shall spoil the substance, every man the substance of his neighbour.
20
Those of the house of Manasseh, with those of the house of Ephraim, and they of the house of Ephraim, with those of the house of Manasseh, shall be joined together as one, to come against them of the house of Judah. For all this they do not turn away from their sins, that His anger might turn away from them; but still they hold fast their rebellion, and yet His stroke is ready to take vengeance on them.
