Isaiah 28:1-13 - Judgment Against The Leaders Of Ephraim

¹ Woe be to the crown of pride, even to the drunken people of Ephraim, whose great pomp is as a flower that fadeth away upon the head of the valley of such as be in wealth, and are overladen with wine. ² Behold, the strength and power of the LORD shall break into the land on every side, like a tempest of hail that beareth down strongholds, and like a horrible, mighty and overflowing water. ³ And the proud crown of the drunken Ephraimites shall be trodden under foot. ⁴ And as for the fading flower, the glory of his pomp, which is upon the top of the plenteous valley: it shall happen unto him, as to an untimely fruit before the harvest come. Which as soon as it is seen, is by and by devoured, before it come well in a man's hand. ⁵ In that day shall the LORD of Hosts be a joyful crown, and a glorious garland unto the remnant of his people. ⁶ Unto the lowly, he shall be a spirit of judgment; and unto them that drive away the enemies from the gates, he shall be a spirit of strength.

⁷ But they go wrong by the reason of wine, they fall and stagger because of strong drink. Yea even the priests and prophets themselves go amiss, they are drunken with wine, and weak brained through strong drink. They fail in prophesying, and stumble in judgment. ⁸ For all tables are so full of vomit and filthiness, that no place is clean. ⁹ Whom then shall such one teach knowledge? And whom shall he make to understand the thing that he heareth? For they are as ignorant as young children, which are weeded from suck or taken from the breasts. ¹⁰ Command that may be commanded, bid that may be bidden, forbid that may be forbidden, keep back that may be kept back, here a little, there a little. ¹¹ And therefore the LORD also shall speak with lisping lips and with a strange language unto this people, to whom he spake afore of this manner: ¹² "This shall bring rest, if one refresh the weary, yea this shall bring rest." But they had no will to hear.

¹³ And therefore the LORD shall answer their stubbornness, lesson upon lesson, commandment upon commandment, rule upon rule, instruction upon instruction, here a little, there a little. That they may go forth, fall backward, be bruised, snared, and taken.