Isaiah 28:1-13 - Judgment Against The Leaders Of Ephraim
1 Alas! for the proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim, And for his fading wreath of majestic beauty, - Which is on the head of the fertile valley, of them who are overcome with wine. 2 Lo! My Lord hath one who is, strong and bold, Like a storm of hail, a destroying tempest, Like a storm of mighty waters overflowing, Hath he thrust it down to the earth with force: 3 With the feet shall be trodden down, the proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim, 4 So shall his fading wreath of majestic beauty, Which is on the head of the fertile valley, become - Like the first-ripe fig before fruit-harvest, Which when he that looketh upon it seeth while it is yet in his hand, he swalloweth it up. 5 In that day, will Yahweh of hosts become A crown of beauty, and A diadem of majesty, - Unto the remnant of his people: 6 Even a spirit of justice - to him that presideth over justice, And strength to them who would turn back the battle at the gate.
7 But as for these, With wine, do they reel, and With strong drink, do they stagger, - Priest and prophet, reel with strong drink They are swallowed up through wine They stagger through strong drink, They reel in prophetic vision, They totter in pronouncing judgment. 8 For, all tables, are full of filthy vomit, - There is no place! 9 Whom, would he teach knowledge? And, whom, would he cause to understand the message? Them who are weaned from the milk? taken from the breasts? 10 For it is - Precept upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, - A little here a little there. 11 For, with a jabbering lip, and with an alien tongue, must he speak unto this people! 12 To whom he said - This, is the rest - give ye rest to the weary, and This, is the quietness, - But they were unwilling to hear.
13 So the word of Yahweh must be to them - Precept upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, A little here, a little there, - That they may go and fall backward and be torn and snared and captured.