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For the yoke that burdened them,
    the pole on their shoulder,
The rod of their taskmaster,
    you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.[a](A)
For every boot that tramped in battle,
    every cloak rolled in blood,
    will be burned as fuel for fire.(B)
For a child[b] is born to us, a son is given to us;
    upon his shoulder dominion rests.
They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero,(C)
    Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.

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Footnotes

  1. 9:3 Day of Midian: when God used the judge Gideon to deliver these northern territories from Midianite oppression (Jgs 6–7).
  2. 9:5 A child: perhaps to be identified with the Emmanuel of 7:14 and 8:8; cf. 11:1–2, 9. This verse may reflect a coronation rather than a birth. Upon his shoulder: the reference may be to a particular act in the ritual in which a symbol of the king’s authority was placed on his shoulder (cf. 2 Kgs 11:12; Is 22:22).

You have enlarged the nation(A)
    and increased their joy;(B)
they rejoice before you
    as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
    when dividing the plunder.(C)
For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,(D)
    you have shattered(E)
the yoke(F) that burdens them,
    the bar across their shoulders,(G)
    the rod of their oppressor.(H)
Every warrior’s boot used in battle
    and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,(I)
    will be fuel for the fire.

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