Isaiah 28:1-13 ▼

1 Woe to the proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim, And to the fading flower of its glorious beauty, Which is at the head of the fertile valley Of those who are overcome with wine!

2 Behold, the Lord has a strong and mighty [agent]; As a storm of hail, a tempest of destruction, Like a storm of mighty overflowing waters, He has cast [it] down to the earth with [His] hand.

3 The proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim is trodden under foot.

4 And the fading flower of its glorious beauty, Which is at the head of the fertile valley, Will be like the first-ripe fig prior to summer, Which one sees, [And] as soon as it is in his hand, He swallows it.

5 In that day the LORD of hosts will become a beautiful crown And a glorious diadem to the remnant of His people;

6 A spirit of justice for him who sits in judgment, A strength to those who repel the onslaught at the gate.

7 And these also reel with wine and stagger from strong drink: The priest and the prophet reel with strong drink, They are confused by wine, they stagger from strong drink; They reel while having visions, They totter [when rendering] judgment.

8 For all the tables are full of filthy vomit, without a [single clean] place.

9 |To whom would He teach knowledge, And to whom would He interpret the message? Those [just] weaned from milk? Those [just] taken from the breast?

10 |For [He says], 'Order on order, order on order, Line on line, line on line, A little here, a little there.'|

11 Indeed, He will speak to this people Through stammering lips and a foreign tongue,

12 He who said to them, |Here is rest, give rest to the weary,| And, |Here is repose,| but they would not listen.

13 So the word of the LORD to them will be, |Order on order, order on order, Line on line, line on line, A little here, a little there,| That they may go and stumble backward, be broken, snared and taken captive.