| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | New International Version |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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! |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3That wreath, the pride of Ephraim's drunkards, will be trampled underfoot. |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5In that day the LORD Almighty will be a glorious crown, a beautiful wreath for the remnant of his people. |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8All the tables are covered with vomit and there is not a spot without filth. |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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? |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10For it is: Do this, do that, a rule for this, a rule for that; a little here, a little there." |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues God will speak to this people, |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers who rule this people in Jerusalem. |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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." |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 20The bed is too short to stretch out on, the blanket too narrow to wrap around you. |
| 21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 23Listen and hear my voice; pay attention and hear what I say. |
| 24[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 24When a farmer plows for planting, does he plow continually? Does he keep on breaking up and working the soil? |
| 25[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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? |
| 26[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 26His God instructs him and teaches him the right way. |
| 27[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 28[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 29[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 29All this also comes from the LORD Almighty, whose plan is wonderful, whose wisdom is magnificent. |
| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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