1 Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine!
1 Woe to the proud crown of the (A)drunkards of (B)Ephraim,And to the fading flower of its glorious beauty,Which is at the head of the (a)fertile valleyOf those who are (b)overcome with wine!
1 Woe to the majestic crown of Ephraim’s drunkards,(A)and to the fading flower of its beautiful splendor,which is on the summit above the rich valley.Woe to those overcome with wine.
1 How terrible it will be for that arrogant garland the drunks of Ephraim! How terrible it will be for that fading flower of his glorious beauty, which sits on the heads of people bloated with food, of people overcome with wine!
2 Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand.
2 Behold, the Lord has a strong and (C)mighty agent;As a storm of (D)hail, a tempest of destruction,Like a storm of (E)mighty overflowing waters,He has cast it down to the earth with His hand.
2 Look, the Lord has a strong and mighty one(B)—like a devastating hail storm,like a storm with strong flooding waters.He will bring it across the land with His hand.
2 Look! The LORD has one who is mighty and strong, like a hailstorm and destructive tempest, like a storm of mighty, overflowing water and he will give rest to the land.
2 Listen carefully, the Lord has a strong and mighty agent [the Assyrian];Like a tempest of hail, a disastrous storm,Like a tempest of mighty overflowing waters,He has cast it down to the earth with His hand.
3 The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet:
3 The majestic crown of Ephraim’s drunkardswill be trampled underfoot.
3 With hands and feet, that proud garland those drunks of Ephraim will be trampled.
3 The splendid crown of the drunkards of Ephraim is trampled by [the foreigners’] feet.
4 And the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, and as the hasty fruit before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up.
4 And the fading flower of its glorious beauty,Which is at the head of the (c)fertile valley,Will be like the (G)first-ripe fig prior to summer,Which (d)one sees,And (e)as soon as it is in his (f)hand,He swallows it.
4 The 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.(C)Whoever sees it will swallow itwhile it is still in his hand.
4 And that fading flower, his glorious beauty, which sits on the heads of people bloated with food, will be like an early fig before summer whenever someone sees it, he swallows it as soon as it's in his hand.
4 And the fading flower of its glorious beauty,Which is at the head of the rich valley,Will be like the early fig before the summer,Which one sees,And as soon as it is in his handHe [greedily] swallows it [and so will the Assyrians rapidly devour Samaria, Israel’s capital].
5 In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people,
5 In that day the (H)Lord of hosts will become a beautiful (I)crownAnd a glorious diadem to the remnant of His people;
5 On that daythe Lord of Hosts will become a crown of beautyand a diadem of splendor(D)to the remnant of His people,
5 At that time, the LORD of the Heavenly Armies will become a glorious crown, a beautiful diadem for the remnant of his people,
5 In that day the Lord of hosts will become a magnificent crownAnd a glorious diadem to the [converted] remnant of His people,
6 And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.
6 A (J)spirit of justice for him who sits in judgment,A (K)strength to those who repel the (g)onslaught at the gate.
6 a spirit of justiceto the one who sits in judgment,(E)and strengthto those who turn back the battle at the gate.
6 and 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.
6 A spirit of justice for him who sits in judgment [administering the law],A strength to those who drive back the battle at the gate.
7 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.
7 And these also (L)reel with wine and stagger from strong drink:(M)The priest and (N)the prophet reel with strong drink,They are confused by wine, they stagger from (O)strong drink;They reel while (h)having (P)visions,They totter when rendering judgment.
7 These also stagger because of wineand stumble under the influence of beer:priest and prophet stagger because of beer,they are confused by wine.(F)They stumble because of beer,they are muddled in their visions,they stumble in their judgments.
7 These people also stagger from wine and reel from strong drink. Priests and prophets stagger from strong drink; they're drunk from wine; they reel from strong drink, waver when seeing visions, and stumble when rendering decisions.
7 But even these 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 seeing visions,They stagger when pronouncing judgment.
8 For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.
8 Indeed, all their tables are covered with vomit;there is no place without a stench.
8 For all the tables are covered in vomit and filth, with no clean space left.
8 For all the tables are full of filthy vomit, so that there is no place [that is clean.]
9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
9 “To (R)whom would He teach knowledge,And to whom would He interpret the message?Those just (S)weaned from milk?Those just taken from the breast?
9 Who is he(a) trying to teach?Who is he(b) trying to instruct?Infants(c) just weaned from milk?Babies(d) removed from the breast?
9 To whom will he teach knowledge, and to whom will he explain the message? To children just weaned from milk? To those just taken from the breast?
9 They say “To whom would He teach knowledge?And to whom would He explain the message?Those just weaned from milk?Those just taken from the breast?
10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
10 “For He says,‘(i)(T)Order on order, order on order,Line on line, line on line,A little here, a little there.’”
10 For he says: “Law after law, law after law,line after line, line after line,a little here, a little there.”(e)(f)
10 For it is: "Do this and do that, do this and do that, Line upon line, line upon line, a little here, a little there."
10 “For He says,‘Precept upon precept, precept upon precept,Rule upon rule, rule upon rule,Here a little, there a little.’”
11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
11 Very well, then, through the mouths of foreigners and foreign languages the LORD will speak to this people
11 Indeed, the Lord will teach this people [in a more humiliating way]By [men with] stammering lips and a foreign tongue,
12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
12 He who said to them, “Here is (V)rest, give rest to the weary,”And, “Here is repose,” but they would not listen.
12 He had said to them:“This is the place of rest,let the weary rest;(H)this is the place of repose.”But they would not listen.
12 to whom he said, "This is the resting place, so give rest to the weary"' and, "This is the place of repose" - but they would not listen.
12 He who said to them, “This is the place of quiet, give rest to the weary,”And, “This is the resting place,” yet they would not listen.
13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
13 So the word of the Lord to them will be,“(j)Order on order, order on order,Line on line, line on line,A little here, a little there,”That they may go and (W)stumble backward, be broken, snared and taken captive.
13 Then the word of the Lord came to them:“Law after law, law after law,line after line, line after line,a little here, a little there,”(g)(h)so they go stumbling backward,to be broken, trapped, and captured.(I)
13 So, then, the message from the LORD to them will become: "Do this and do that, do this and do that, line upon line, line upon line, a little here, a little there," so that they will go, but fall backward, and be injured, snared, and captured.
13 Therefore the word of the Lord to them will be [merely monotonous repetitions]:“Precept upon precept, precept upon precept,Rule upon rule, rule upon rule,Here a little, there a little.”That they may go and stumble backward, and be broken, ensnared, and taken captive.
14 Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.
14 Therefore, (X)hear the word of the Lord, O (Y)scoffers,Who rule this people who are in Jerusalem,
14 "Therefore hear the message from the LORD, you scoffers who rule this people that are in Jerusalem.
14 Therefore, hear the word of the Lord, you arrogant menWho rule this people who are in Jerusalem!
15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:
15 Because you have said, “We have made a (Z)covenant with death,And with (k)Sheol we have made a (l)pact.(AA)The overwhelming (m)scourge will not reach us when it passes by,For we have made (AB)falsehood our refuge and we have (AC)concealed ourselves with deception.”
15 For you said, “We have cut a deal with Death,and we have made an agreement with Sheol;when the overwhelming scourge passes through,(L)it will not touch us,because we have made falsehood our refugeand have hidden behind treachery.”
15 Because you said: "We have entered into a covenant with death, and we have an agreement with Sheol, so when the overwhelming scourge makes its choice, it cannot reach us, since we have made lies our refuge and have concealed ourselves inside falsehood,'
15 Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death,And with Sheol (the place of the dead) we have made an agreement,When the overwhelming scourge passes by, it will not reach us,For we have made lies our refuge and we have concealed ourselves in deception.”
16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
16 Therefore thus says the Lord (n)God,“(AD)Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested (AE)stone,A costly cornerstone for the foundation, (o)firmly placed.He who believes in it will not be (p)disturbed.
16 Therefore the Lord God said:“Look, I have laid a stone(M) in Zion,a tested stone,a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation;(N)the one who believes will be unshakable.(i)(O)
16 therefore this is what the LORD God says: "Look! I am laying a foundation stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation: Whoever believes firmly will not act hastily.
17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.
17 “I will make (AF)justice the measuring lineAnd righteousness the level;Then (AG)hail will sweep away the refuge of liesAnd the waters will overflow the secret place.
17 And I will make justice the measuring lineand righteousness the mason’s level.”(P)Hail will sweep away the false refuge,and water will flood your hiding place.
17 And I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plumb line; hail will sweep away your refuge of lies, and floods will overflow your hiding place.
17 “I will make justice the measuring lineAnd righteousness the mason’s level;Then hail will sweep away the refuge of liesAnd waters will flood over the secret [hiding] place.
18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.
18 “Your (AH)covenant with death will be (q)(AI)canceled,And your pact with Sheol will not stand;When the (AJ)overwhelming scourge passes through,Then you become its (AK)trampling place.
18 Your deal with Death will be dissolved,and your agreement with Sheol will not last.When the overwhelming scourge passes through,you will be trampled.
18 "Then your covenant with death will be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol will not stand; when the overwhelming scourge sweeps by, you will be trampled by it.
18 “Your covenant with death will be annulled,And your agreement with Sheol (the place of the dead) will not stand;When the overwhelming scourge passes through,Then you will become its trampling ground.
19 From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report.
19 “As (AL)often as it passes through, it will (r)seize you;For (AM)morning after morning it will pass through, anytime during the day or night,And it will be (s)sheer (AN)terror to understand (t)what it means.”
19 Every time it passes through,it will carry you away;it will pass through every morning—every day and every night.Only terror(Q) will cause youto understand the message.(j)
19 As often as it sweeps through, it will carry you away, for it will sweep by morning after morning in the day; but understanding this message will bring sheer terror at night,
19 “As often as it passes through, it will seize you;For morning after morning it will pass through, by day and by night,And it will be sheer terror to understand what it means.”
20 For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.
20 The bed is too short on which to stretch out,And the (AO)blanket is too (u)small to wrap oneself in.
20 Indeed, the bed is too short to stretch out on,and its cover too small to wrap up in.
20 because the bed is too short to stretch out on, and its blankets too narrow to wrap around oneself!
20 For the bed is too short to stretch out on,And the blanket is too narrow to wrap around oneself [and likewise all their preparations are inadequate].
21 For the LORD shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act.
21 For the Lord will rise up as at Mount (AP)Perazim,He will be stirred up as in the valley of (AQ)Gibeon,To do His (AR)task, His (v)(AS)unusual task,And to work His work, His (w)extraordinary work.
21 For the Lord will rise up as He did at Mount Perazim.(R)He will rise in wrath, as at the Valley of Gibeon,(S)to do His work, His strange work,and to perform His task, His disturbing task.
21 For the LORD will stand upon Mount Perazim, he will rouse himself in the Valley of Gibeon; to carry out his work his strange deed, and to perform his task his alien task!
22 Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth.
22 And now do not carry on as (AT)scoffers,Or your fetters will be made stronger;For I have heard from the Lord (x)God of hostsOf decisive (AU)destruction on all the earth.
22 So now, do not mock,or your shackles will become stronger.Indeed, I have heard from the Lord God of Hostsa decree of destruction for the whole land.(T)
22 But as for you, don't start mocking, or your chains will become tighter; for I have heard from the LORD of the Heavenly Armies about destruction, and it is decreed against the whole land.
22 Now do not carry on as scoffers,Or the bands which bind you will be made stronger;For I have heard from the Lord God of hosts [a decree]Of decisive destruction on all the earth.
23 Give ye ear, and hear my voice; hearken, and hear my speech.
23 Give ear and hear my voice,Listen and hear my words.
23 Listen and hear my voice.Pay attention and hear what I say.
23 "Pay attention! Listen to what I have to say; Pay attention, and hear my speech.
23 Listen and hear my voice;Listen carefully and hear my words.
24 Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? doth he open and break the clods of his ground?
24 Does the (y)farmer plow (z)continually to plant seed?Does he continually (aa)turn and harrow the ground?
24 Does the plowman plow every day to plant seed?Does he continuously break up and cultivate the soil?
24 Does he who plows for sowing plow all the time? Does he keep on breaking up and harrowing his field?
24 Does the farmer plow all day to plant seed?Does he continually dig furrows and harrow his ground [after it is prepared]?
25 When he hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and cast in the principal wheat and the appointed barley and the rie in their place?
25 Does he not level its surfaceAnd sow dill and scatter (AV)cumminAnd (ab)plant (AW)wheat in rows,Barley in its place and rye within its (ac)area?
25 When 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.
25 When he has leveled its surface, he scatters caraway and sows cumin, doesn't he? He plants wheat in rows, barley in its designated place, and feed for livestock around its borders, doesn't he?
26 For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him.
26 For his God instructs and teaches him properly.
26 His God teaches him order;He instructs him.
26 His God instructs him regarding the correct way, directing him how to plant.
26 For his God instructs [him correctly] and teaches him properly.
27 For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the fitches are beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod.
27 For dill is not threshed with a (AX)threshing sledge,Nor is the cartwheel (ad)driven over cummin;But dill is beaten out with a rod, and cummin with a club.
27 Certainly black cumin is not threshedwith 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.
27 For caraway is not threshed with a sharp sledge, nor is a cart wheel rolled over cumin. Instead, caraway is winnowed with a stick, and cumin with a rod.
27 For dill is not threshed with a sharp threshing sledge,Nor is a cartwheel rolled over cumin;But dill is beaten out with a staff, and cumin with a rod.
28 Bread corn is bruised; because he will not ever be threshing it, nor break it with the wheel of his cart, nor bruise it with his horsemen.
28 Grain for bread is crushed,Indeed, he does not continue to thresh it forever.Because the wheel of his cart and his horses eventually (ae)damage it,He does not thresh it longer.
28 Bread grain is crushed,but is not threshed endlessly.Though the wheel of the farmer’s cart rumbles,his horses do not crush it.
28 It must be ground; one cannot keep threshing it forever. Even if he drives his cart and horses over it, he cannot crush it.
28 Bread grain is crushed fine,Indeed, the farmer does not continue to thresh it forever.Because the wheel of his cart and his horses eventually damage it,He does not thresh it longer.
29 This also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.
29 This also comes from the Lord of hosts,Who has made His counsel (AY)wonderful and His wisdom (AZ)great.
29 This insight also comes from the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, who is distinguished in practical advice and magnificent in sound wisdom."
29 This also comes from the Lord of hosts,Who has made His counsel wonderful and His wisdom great.
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International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.
King James Version Public Domain
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