Isaiah 28
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1How terrible it will be for that arrogant garland— the drunks of Ephraim! How terrible it will be for that fading flower of his glorious beauty, which sits on the heads of people bloated with food, of people overcome with wine!1Woe to that wreath, the pride of Ephraim's drunkards, to the fading flower, his glorious beauty, set on the head of a fertile valley-- to that city, the pride of those laid low by wine!
2Look! The LORD has one who is mighty and strong, like a hailstorm and destructive tempest, like a storm of mighty, overflowing water— and he will give rest to the land.2See, the Lord has one who is powerful and strong. Like a hailstorm and a destructive wind, like a driving rain and a flooding downpour, he will throw it forcefully to the ground.
3With hands and feet, that proud garland — those drunks of Ephraim—will be trampled.3That wreath, the pride of Ephraim's drunkards, will be trampled underfoot.
4And that fading flower, his glorious beauty, which sits on the heads of people bloated with food, will be like an early fig before summer— whenever someone sees it, he swallows it as soon as it's in his hand.4That fading flower, his glorious beauty, set on the head of a fertile valley, will be like figs ripe before harvest-- as soon as people see them and take them in hand, they swallow them.
5At that time, the LORD of the Heavenly Armies will become a glorious crown, a beautiful diadem for the remnant of his people,5In that day the LORD Almighty will be a glorious crown, a beautiful wreath for the remnant of his people.
6and a spirit of justice to the one who sits in judgment, a source of strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.6He will be a spirit of justice to the one who sits in judgment, a source of strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.
7These people also stagger from wine and reel from strong drink. Priests and prophets stagger from strong drink; they're drunk from wine; they reel from strong drink, waver when seeing visions, and stumble when rendering decisions.7And these also stagger from wine and reel from beer: Priests and prophets stagger from beer and are befuddled with wine; they reel from beer, they stagger when seeing visions, they stumble when rendering decisions.
8For all the tables are covered in vomit and filth, with no clean space left.8All the tables are covered with vomit and there is not a spot without filth.
9To whom will he teach knowledge, and to whom will he explain the message? To children just weaned from milk? To those just taken from the breast?9"Who is it he is trying to teach? To whom is he explaining his message? To children weaned from their milk, to those just taken from the breast?
10For it is: "Do this and do that, do this and do that, Line upon line, line upon line, a little here, a little there."10For it is: Do this, do that, a rule for this, a rule for that; a little here, a little there."
11Very well, then, through the mouths of foreigners and foreign languages the LORD will speak to this people11Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues God will speak to this people,
12to whom he said, "This is the resting place, so give rest to the weary"' and, "This is the place of repose"— but they would not listen.12to whom he said, "This is the resting place, let the weary rest"; and, "This is the place of repose"-- but they would not listen.
13So, then, the message from the LORD to them will become: "Do this and do that, do this and do that, line upon line, line upon line, a little here, a little there," so that they will go, but fall backward, and be injured, snared, and captured.13So then, the word of the LORD to them will become: Do this, do that, a rule for this, a rule for that; a little here, a little there-- so that as they go they will fall backward; they will be injured and snared and captured.
14"Therefore hear the message from the LORD, you scoffers who rule this people that are in Jerusalem.14Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers who rule this people in Jerusalem.
15Because you said: 'We have entered into a covenant with death, and we have an agreement with Sheol, so when the overwhelming scourge makes its choice, it cannot reach us, since we have made lies our refuge and have concealed ourselves inside falsehood'15You boast, "We have entered into a covenant with death, with the realm of the dead we have made an agreement. When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by, it cannot touch us, for we have made a lie our refuge and falsehood our hiding place."
16therefore this is what the LORD God says: "Look! I am laying a foundation stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation: Whoever believes firmly will not act hastily.16So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.
17And I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plumb line; hail will sweep away your refuge of lies, and floods will overflow your hiding place.17I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line; hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie, and water will overflow your hiding place.
18"Then your covenant with death will be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol will not stand; when the overwhelming scourge sweeps by, you will be trampled by it.18Your covenant with death will be annulled; your agreement with the realm of the dead will not stand. When the overwhelming scourge sweeps by, you will be beaten down by it.
19As often as it sweeps through, it will carry you away, for it will sweep by morning after morning in the day; but understanding this message will bring sheer terror at night, 19As often as it comes it will carry you away; morning after morning, by day and by night, it will sweep through." The understanding of this message will bring sheer terror.
20because the bed is too short to stretch out on, and its blankets too narrow to wrap around oneself!20The bed is too short to stretch out on, the blanket too narrow to wrap around you.
21For the LORD will stand upon Mount Perazim, he will rouse himself in the Valley of Gibeon; to carry out his work— his strange deed, and to perform his task— his alien task!21The LORD will rise up as he did at Mount Perazim, he will rouse himself as in the Valley of Gibeon-- to do his work, his strange work, and perform his task, his alien task.
22But as for you, don't start mocking, or your chains will become tighter; for I have heard from the LORD of the Heavenly Armies about destruction, and it is decreed against the whole land.22Now stop your mocking, or your chains will become heavier; the Lord, the LORD Almighty, has told me of the destruction decreed against the whole land.
23"Pay attention! Listen to what I have to say; Pay attention, and hear my speech.23Listen and hear my voice; pay attention and hear what I say.
24Does he who plows for sowing plow all the time? Does he keep on breaking up and harrowing his field?24When a farmer plows for planting, does he plow continually? Does he keep on breaking up and working the soil?
25When he has leveled its surface, he scatters caraway and sows cumin, doesn't he? He plants wheat in rows, barley in its designated place, and feed for livestock around its borders, doesn't he?25When he has leveled the surface, does he not sow caraway and scatter cumin? Does he not plant wheat in its place, barley in its plot, and spelt in its field?
26His God instructs him regarding the correct way, directing him how to plant. 26His God instructs him and teaches him the right way.
27For caraway is not threshed with a sharp sledge, nor is a cart wheel rolled over cumin. Instead, caraway is winnowed with a stick, and cumin with a rod.27Caraway is not threshed with a sledge, nor is the wheel of a cart rolled over cumin; caraway is beaten out with a rod, and cumin with a stick.
28It must be ground; one cannot keep threshing it forever. Even if he drives his cart and horses over it, he cannot crush it.28Grain must be ground to make bread; so one does not go on threshing it forever. The wheels of a threshing cart may be rolled over it, but one does not use horses to grind grain.
29This insight also comes from the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, who is distinguished in practical advice and magnificent in sound wisdom."29All this also comes from the LORD Almighty, whose plan is wonderful, whose wisdom is magnificent.
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Isaiah 27
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