Isaiah 28:1-18 ▼

1 Woe to the crown of pride, the hirelings of Ephraim, the flower that has fallen from the glory of the top of the fertile mountain, they that are drunken without wine.

2 Behold, the anger of the Lord is strong and severe, as descending hail where there is no shelter, violently descending; as a great body of water sweeping away the soil, he shall make rest for the land.

3 The crown of pride, the hirelings of Ephraim, shall be beaten down with the hands and with the feet.

4 And the fading flower of the glorious hope on the top of the high mountain shall be as the early fig; he that sees it, before he takes it into his hand, will desire to swallow it down.

5 In that day the Lord of hosts shall be the crown of hope, the woven crown of glory, to the remnant of the people.

6 They shall be left in the spirit of judgement for judgement, and for the strength of them that hinder slaying.

7 For these have trespassed through wine; they have erred through strong drink: the priest and the prophet are mad through strong drink, they are swallowed up by reason of wine, they have staggered through drunkenness; they have erred: this is their vision.

8 A curse shall devour this counsel, for this is their counsel for the sake of covetousness.

9 To whom have we reported evils? and to whom have we reported a message? even to those that are weaned from the milk, who are drawn from the breast.

10 Except thou affliction on affliction, hope upon hope: yet a little, and yet a little,

11 by reason of the contemptuous words of the lips, by means of another language: for they shall speak to this people, saying to them,

12 This is the rest to him that is hungry, and this is the calamity: but they would not hear.

13 Therefore the oracle of God shall be to them affliction on affliction, hope on hope, yet a little, and yet a little, that they may go and fall backward; and they shall be crushed and shall be in danger, and shall be taken.

14 Therefore hear ye the word of the Lord, ye afflicted men, and ye princes of this people that is in Jerusalem.

15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with Hades, and agreements with death; if the rushing storm should pass, it shall not come upon us: we have made falsehood our hope, and by falsehood shall we be protected:

16 Therefore thus saith the Lord, even the Lord, Behold, I lay for the foundations of Sion a costly stone, a choice, a corner-stone, a precious stone , for its foundations; and he that believes on him shall by no means be ashamed.

17 And I will cause judgement to be for hope, and my compassion shall be for just measures, and ye that trust vainly in falsehood shall fall : for the storm shall by no means pass by you,

18 except it also take away your covenant of death, and your trust in Hades shall by no means stand: if the rushing storm should come upon you, ye shall be beaten down by it.