Isaiah 9:3-5

New Century Version

³ God, you have caused the nation to grow
    and made the people happy.
And they have shown their happiness to you,
    like the joy during harvest time,
like the joy of people
    taking what they have won in war.
⁴ Like the time you defeated Midian,
    you have taken away their heavy load
and the heavy pole from their backs
    and the rod the enemy used to punish them.
⁵ Every boot that marched in battle
    and every uniform stained with blood
    has been thrown into the fire.