| Holman Christian Standard Bible | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Woe to the majestic crown of Ephraim's drunkards, and to the fading flower of its beautiful splendor, which is on the summit above the rich valley. Woe to those overcome with wine. | 1Woe to the majestic crown of Ephraim’s drunkards, to the fading flower of his glorious splendor, set on the summit above the fertile valley, the pride of those overcome by wine. |
| 2Look, the Lord has a strong and mighty one-- like a devastating hail storm, like a storm with strong flooding waters. He will bring it across the land with His hand. | 2Behold, the Lord has one who is strong and mighty. Like a hailstorm or destructive tempest, like a driving rain or flooding downpour, he will smash that crown to the ground. |
| 3The majestic crown of Ephraim's drunkards will be trampled underfoot. | 3The majestic crown of Ephraim’s drunkards will be trampled underfoot. |
| 4The fading flower of his beautiful splendor, which is on the summit above the rich valley, will be like a ripe fig before the summer harvest. Whoever sees it will swallow it while it is still in his hand. | 4The fading flower of his beautiful splendor, set on the summit above the fertile valley, will be like a ripe fig before the summer harvest: Whoever sees it will take it in his hand and swallow it. |
| 5On that day the LORD of Hosts will become a crown of beauty and a diadem of splendor to the remnant of His people, | 5On that day the LORD of Hosts will be a crown of glory, a diadem of splendor to the remnant of His people, |
| 6a spirit of justice to the one who sits in judgment, and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate. | 6a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and a strength to those who repel the onslaught at the gate. |
| 7These also stagger because of wine and stumble under the influence of beer: priest and prophet stagger because of beer, they are confused by wine. They stumble because of beer, they are muddled in their visions, they stumble in their judgments. | 7These also stagger from wine and stumble from strong drink: Priests and prophets reel from strong drink and are befuddled by wine. They stumble because of strong drink, muddled in their visions and stumbling in their judgments. |
| 8Indeed, all their tables are covered with vomit; there is no place without a stench. | 8For all their tables are covered with vomit; there is not a place without filth. |
| 9Who is he trying to teach? Who is he trying to instruct? Infants just weaned from milk? Babies removed from the breast? | 9Whom is He trying to teach? To whom is He explaining His message? To infants just weaned from milk? To babies removed from the breast? |
| 10For he says: "Law after law, law after law, line after line, line after line, a little here, a little there." | 10For they hear: “Order on order, order on order, line on line, line on line; a little here, a little there.” |
| 11So He will speak to this people with stammering speech and in a foreign language. | 11Indeed, with mocking lips and foreign tongues, He will speak to this people |
| 12He had said to them:" This is the place of rest, let the weary rest; this is the place of repose." But they would not listen. | 12to whom He has said: “This is the place of rest, let the weary rest; this is the place of repose.” But they would not listen. |
| 13Then the word of the LORD came to them:" Law after law, law after law, line after line, line after line, a little here, a little there," so they go stumbling backward, to be broken, trapped, and captured. | 13Then the word of the LORD to them will become: “Order on order, order on order, line on line, line on line; a little here, a little there,” so that they will go stumbling backward and will be injured, ensnared, and captured. |
| 14Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you mockers who rule this people in Jerusalem. | 14Therefore hear the word of the LORD, O scoffers who rule this people in Jerusalem. |
| 15For you said, "We have cut a deal with Death, and we have made an agreement with Sheol; when the overwhelming scourge passes through, it will not touch us, because we have made falsehood our refuge and have hidden behind treachery." | 15For you said, “We have made a covenant with death; we have fashioned an agreement with Sheol. When the overwhelming scourge passes through it will not touch us, because we have made lies our refuge and falsehood our hiding place.” |
| 16Therefore the Lord GOD said:" Look, I have laid a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will be unshakable. | 16So this is what the Lord GOD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken. |
| 17And I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the mason's level." Hail will sweep away the false refuge, and water will flood your hiding place. | 17I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the level. Hail will sweep away your refuge of lies, and water will flood your hiding place. |
| 18Your deal with Death will be dissolved, and your agreement with Sheol will not last. When the overwhelming scourge passes through, you will be trampled. | 18Your covenant with death will be dissolved, and your agreement with Sheol will not stand. When the overwhelming scourge passes through, you will be trampled by it. |
| 19Every time it passes through, it will carry you away; it will pass through every morning-- every day and every night. Only terror will cause you to understand the message. | 19As often as it passes through, it will carry you away; it will sweep through morning after morning, by day and by night.” The understanding of this message will bring sheer terror. |
| 20Indeed, the bed is too short to stretch out on, and its cover too small to wrap up in. | 20Indeed, the bed is too short to stretch out on, and the blanket too small to wrap around you. |
| 21For the LORD will rise up as He did at Mount Perazim. He will rise in wrath, as at the Valley of Gibeon, to do His work, His strange work, and to perform His task, His disturbing task. | 21For the LORD will rise up as at Mount Perazim. He will rouse Himself as in the Valley of Gibeon, to do His work, His strange work, and to perform His task, His disturbing task. |
| 22So now, do not mock, or your shackles will become stronger. Indeed, I have heard from the Lord GOD of Hosts a decree of destruction for the whole land. | 22So now, do not mock, or your shackles will become heavier. Indeed, I have heard from the Lord GOD of Hosts a decree of destruction against the whole land. |
| 23Listen and hear my voice. Pay attention and hear what I say. | 23Listen and hear my voice. Pay attention and hear what I say. |
| 24Does the plowman plow every day to plant seed? Does he continuously break up and cultivate the soil? | 24Does the plowman plow for planting every day? Does he continuously loosen and harrow the soil? |
| 25When he has leveled its surface, does he not then scatter black cumin and sow cumin? He plants wheat in rows and barley in plots, with spelt as their border. | 25When he has leveled its surface, does he not sow caraway and scatter cumin? He plants wheat in rows and barley in plots, and rye within its border. |
| 26His God teaches him order; He instructs him. | 26For his God instructs and teaches him properly. |
| 27Certainly black cumin is not threshed with a threshing board, and a cart wheel is not rolled over the cumin. But black cumin is beaten out with a stick, and cumin with a rod. | 27Surely caraway is not threshed with a sledge, and the wheel of a cart is not rolled over the cumin. But caraway is beaten out with a stick, and cumin with a rod. |
| 28Bread grain is crushed, but is not threshed endlessly. Though the wheel of the farmer's cart rumbles, his horses do not crush it. | 28Grain for bread must be ground, but it is not endlessly threshed. Though the wheels of the cart roll over it, the horses do not crush it. |
| 29This also comes from the LORD of Hosts. He gives wonderful advice; He gives great wisdom. | 29This also comes from the LORD of Hosts, who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom. |
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