Isaiah 28
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Christian Standard BibleNew International Version
1Woe to the majestic crown of Ephraim's drunkards, and to the fading flower of its beautiful splendor, which is on the summit above the rich valley. Woe to those 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 a strong and mighty one--like a devastating hail storm, like a storm with strong flooding water. He will bring it across the land with his hand.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.
3The majestic crown of Ephraim's drunkards will be trampled underfoot.3That wreath, the pride of Ephraim's drunkards, will be trampled underfoot.
4The fading flower of his beautiful splendor, which is on the summit above the rich valley, will be like a ripe fig before the summer harvest. Whoever sees it will swallow it while it is still 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.
5On that day the LORD of Armies will become a crown of beauty and a diadem of splendor to 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.
6a spirit of justice to the one who sits in judgment, and strength to those who repel attacks at the city 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.
7Even these stagger because of wine and stumble under the influence of beer: priest and prophet stagger because of beer, they are confused by wine. They stumble because of beer, they are muddled in their visions, they stumble in their judgments.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.
8Indeed, all their tables are covered with vomit; there is no place without a stench.8All the tables are covered with vomit and there is not a spot without filth.
9Who is he trying to teach? Who is he trying to instruct? Infants just weaned from milk? Babies removed 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?
10"Law after law, law after law, line after line, line after 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."
11For he will speak to this people with stammering speech and in a foreign language.11Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues God will speak to this people,
12He had said to them: "This is the place of rest; let the weary rest; 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.
13The word of the LORD will come to them: "Law after law, law after law, line after line, line after line, a little here, a little there," so they go stumbling backward, to be broken, trapped, 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.
14Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers who rule this people in Jerusalem.14Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers who rule this people in Jerusalem.
15For you said, "We have made a covenant with Death, and we have an agreement with Sheol; when the overwhelming catastrophe passes through, it will not touch us, because we have made falsehood our refuge and have hidden behind treachery."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 the Lord GOD said: "Look, I have laid a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will be unshakable.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 mason's level." Hail will sweep away the false refuge, and water will flood 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.
18Your covenant with Death will be dissolved, and your agreement with Sheol will not last. When the overwhelming catastrophe passes through, you will be trampled.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.
19Every time it passes through, it will carry you away; it will pass through every morning--every day and every night. Only terror will cause you to understand the message.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.
20Indeed, the bed is too short to stretch out on, and its cover too small to wrap up in.20The bed is too short to stretch out on, the blanket too narrow to wrap around you.
21For the LORD will rise up as he did at Mount Perazim. He will rise in wrath, as at the Valley of Gibeon, to do his work, his unexpected work, and to perform his task, his unfamiliar 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.
22So now, do not scoff, or your shackles will become stronger. Indeed, I have heard from the Lord GOD of Armies a decree of destruction for 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.
23Listen and hear my voice. Pay attention and hear what I say.23Listen and hear my voice; pay attention and hear what I say.
24Does the plowman plow every day to plant seed? Does he continuously break up and cultivate the soil?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, does he not then scatter black cumin and sow cumin? He plants wheat in rows and barley in plots, with spelt as their border.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 teaches him order; he instructs him.26His God instructs him and teaches him the right way.
27Certainly black cumin is not threshed with a threshing board, and a cart wheel is not rolled over the cumin. But black cumin is beaten out 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.
28Bread grain is crushed, but is not threshed endlessly. Though the wheel of the farmer's cart rumbles, his horses do not 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 also comes from the LORD of Armies. He gives wondrous advice; he gives great wisdom.29All this also comes from the LORD Almighty, whose plan is wonderful, whose wisdom is magnificent.
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.New International Version (NIV)

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Isaiah 27
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