The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Isaiah 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 castthem downto
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?
10For 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.