Chapter 28
1 Woe to the crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim, and to the fading flower of his glorious beauty , which is on the head of the fertile valley of those who are overcome with wine !
2 Behold , the Lord has one who is mighty and strong . Like a storm of hail , a destroying storm , and like a storm of mighty waters overflowing , he will cast them down to the earth with his hand .
3 The crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim will be trodden under foot .
4 The fading flower of his glorious beauty , which is on the head of the fertile valley , shall be like the first-ripe fig before the summer , which someone picks and eats as soon as he sees it .
5 In that day , Yahweh of Armies will become a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty to the residue of his people ,
6 and a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment , and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate .
7 They also reel with wine , and stagger with strong drink . The priest and the prophet reel with strong drink . They are swallowed up by wine . They stagger with strong drink . They err in vision . They stumble in judgment .
8 For all tables are completely full of filthy vomit and filthiness .
9 Whom will he teach knowledge ? To whom will he explain the message ? Those who are weaned from the milk , and drawn from the breasts ?
10 For it is precept on precept , precept on precept ; line on line , line on line ; here a little , there a little .
11 But he will speak to this nation with stammering lips and in another language ,
12 to whom he said , " This is the resting place . Give rest to the weary ," and " This is the refreshing ;" yet they would not hear .
13 Therefore Yahweh ’s word will be to them precept on precept , precept on precept ; line on line , line on line ; here a little , there a little ; that they may go , fall backward, be broken , be snared , and be taken .
14 Therefore hear Yahweh ’s word , you scoffers, that rule this people in Jerusalem :
15 " Because you have said, ‘ We have made a covenant with death , and we are in agreement with Sheol . When the overflowing scourge passes through , it won’t come to us ; for we have made lies our refuge , and we have hidden ourselves under falsehood .’"
16 Therefore the Lord Yahweh says , " Behold , I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone of a sure foundation . He who believes shall not act hastily.
17 I will make justice the measuring line , and righteousness the plumb line . The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies , and the waters will overflow the hiding place .
18 Your covenant with death shall be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol shall not stand . When the overflowing scourge passes through , then you will be trampled down by it .
19 As often as it passes through , it will seize you ; for morning by morning it will pass through , by day and by night ; and it will be nothing but terror to understand the message ."
20 For the bed is too short to stretch out on , and the blanket is too narrow to wrap oneself in .
21 For Yahweh will rise up as on Mount Perazim . He will be angry as in the valley of Gibeon ; that he may do his work , his unusual work , and bring to pass his act , his extraordinary act .
22 Now therefore don’t be scoffers, lest your bonds be made strong ; for I have heard a decree of destruction from the Lord , Yahweh of Armies , on the whole earth.
23 Give ear , and hear my voice ! Listen , and hear my speech!
24 Does he who plows to sow plow continually ? Does he keep turning the soil and breaking the clods ?
25 When he has leveled its surface , doesn’t he plant the dill , and scatter the cumin seed, and put in the wheat in rows , the barley in the appointed place , and the spelt in its place ?
26 For his God instructs him in right judgment and teaches him .
27 For the dill isn’t threshed with a sharp instrument , neither is a cart wheel turned over the cumin; but the dill is beaten out with a stick, and the cumin with a rod .
28 Bread flour must be ground ; so he will not always be threshing it . Although he drives the wheel of his threshing cart over it , his horses don’t grind it .
29 This also comes out from Yahweh of Armies , who is wonderful in counsel , and excellent in wisdom .