28
1 Woe
to the crown
of pride of
the drunkards
of Ephraim, and to
the fading flower
of his glorious
beauty, which is
on the head
of the fertile
valley of those
who are overcome
with wine!
2 Behold,
the Lord has one
who is mighty
and strong. Like a
storm of hail,
a destroying storm,
and like a storm
of mighty waters
overflowing, he
will cast them
down to the earth
with his hand.
3 The
crown of pride
of the drunkards
of Ephraim will be
trodden under foot.
4 The
fading flower of
his glorious
beauty, which is
on the head
of the fertile
valley, shall be
like the first-ripe fig
before the summer,
which someone picks and eats as
soon as he
sees it.
5 In
that day, the
LORD of Armies
will become a
crown of glory
and a diadem
of beauty to
the residue of
his people,
6 and
a spirit of
justice to him
who sits in
judgment, and
strength to those
who turn back
the battle at
the gate.
7 They
also reel with
wine, and stagger
with strong drink.
The priest and
the prophet reel
with strong drink.
They are swallowed
up by wine.
They stagger with
strong drink. They
err in vision.
They stumble in
judgment.
8 For
all tables are
completely full of
filthy vomit and
filthiness.
9 Whom
will he teach
knowledge? To whom
will he explain
the message? Those
who are weaned
from the milk,
and drawn from
the breasts?
10 For
it is precept
on precept,
precept on precept;
line on line,
line on line;
here a little,
there a little.
11 But
he will speak
to this nation
with stammering
lips and in
another language,
12 to whom
he said, “This
is the resting
place. Give rest
to the weary,”
and “This is
the refreshing;”
yet they would not
hear.
13 Therefore
the LORD’s word
will be to
them precept on
precept, precept
on precept; line
on line, line
on line; here
a little, there
a little; that
they may go,
fall backward, be
broken, be snared,
and be taken.
14 Therefore
hear the LORD’s
word, you scoffers,
that rule this
people in
Jerusalem:
15 “Because
you have said, ‘We
have made a
covenant with
death, and we
are in agreement
with Sheol.
When the
overflowing scourge passes
through, it won’t
come to us;
for we have
made lies our
refuge, and we
have hidden ourselves
under falsehood.’ ”
16 Therefore
the Lord GOD
says, “Behold, I
lay in Zion
for a foundation
a stone, a tried stone,
a precious
cornerstone of a
sure foundation.
He who believes
shall not act hastily.
17 I
will make justice
the measuring line,
and righteousness
the plumb line.
The hail will
sweep away the
refuge of lies,
and the waters
will overflow the
hiding place.
18 Your
covenant with
death shall
be annulled, and
your agreement
with Sheol
shall not stand.
When the
overflowing scourge
passes through,
then you will
be trampled down
by it.
19 As
often as it
passes through, it
will seize you;
for morning by
morning it will
pass through, by
day and by
night; and it
will be nothing
but terror
to understand the
message.”
20 For
the bed is too
short to
stretch out on,
and the blanket
is too narrow to
wrap oneself in.
21 For
the LORD will
rise up as
on Mount Perazim.
He will be angry
as in the
valley of Gibeon;
that he may
do his work,
his unusual work,
and bring to
pass his act,
his extraordinary
act.
22 Now
therefore don’t be scoffers,
lest your bonds
be made strong;
for I have
heard a decree of
destruction from
the Lord, GOD
of Armies, on
the whole earth.
23 Give
ear, and hear
my voice! Listen,
and hear my speech!
24 Does he
who plows to sow
plow continually? Does
he keep turning
the soil and breaking
the clods?
25 When he has
leveled its surface, doesn’t
he plant the
dill, and scatter
the cumin seed, and
put in the
wheat in rows,
the barley in
the appointed
place, and the
spelt in its
place?
26 For
his God instructs
him in right
judgment and
teaches him.
27 For
the dill isn’t
threshed with a
sharp instrument,
neither is a
cart wheel turned
over the cumin;
but the dill
is beaten out
with a stick, and
the cumin with a
rod.
28 Bread flour
must be ground;
so he will
not always be
threshing it.
Although he drives
the wheel of
his threshing
cart over it, his
horses don’t grind it.
29 This
also comes out
from the LORD
of Armies, who
is wonderful in
counsel, and
excellent in
wisdom.