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!

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.

³ The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under 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.

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,

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.

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.

⁸ For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place 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.

¹⁰ For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

¹¹ For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.

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.

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.

¹⁴ Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is 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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

²³ Give ye ear, and hear my voice; hearken, and hear my speech.

²⁴ Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? doth he open and break the clods of his ground?

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?

²⁶ For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him.

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.

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.

²⁹ This also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.

---

¹ Woe ^H1945 to the crown ^H5850 of pride, ^H1348 to the drunkards ^H7910 of Ephraim, ^H669 whose glorious ^H6643 beauty ^H8597 is a fading ^H5034 flower, ^H6731 which are on the head ^H7218 of the fat ^H8081 valleys ^H1516 of them that are overcome ^H1986 with wine! ^H3196

² Behold, the Lord ^H136 hath a mighty ^H2389 and strong one, ^H533 which as a tempest ^H2230 of hail ^H1259 and a destroying ^H6986 storm, ^H8178 as a flood ^H2230 of mighty ^H3524 waters ^H4325 overflowing, ^H7857 shall cast down ^H3240 to the earth ^H776 with the hand. ^H3027

³ The crown ^H5850 of pride, ^H1348 the drunkards ^H7910 of Ephraim, ^H669 shall be trodden ^H7429 under feet: ^H7272

⁴ And the glorious ^H6643 beauty, ^H8597 which is on the head ^H7218 of the fat ^H8081 valley, ^H1516 shall be a fading ^H5034 flower, ^H6733 and as the hasty fruit ^H1061 before the summer; ^H7019 which when he that looketh ^H7200 upon it seeth, ^H7200 while it is yet in his hand ^H3709 he eateth it up. ^H1104

⁵ In that day ^H3117 shall the LORD ^H3068 of hosts ^H6635 be for a crown ^H5850 of glory, ^H6643 and for a diadem ^H6843 of beauty, ^H8597 unto the residue ^H7605 of his people, ^H5971

⁶ And for a spirit ^H7307 of judgment ^H4941 to him that sitteth ^H3427 in judgment, ^H4941 and for strength ^H1369 to them that turn ^H7725 the battle ^H4421 to the gate. ^H8179

⁷ But they ^H428 also have erred ^H7686 through wine, ^H3196 and through strong drink ^H7941 are out of the way; ^H8582 the priest ^H3548 and the prophet ^H5030 have erred ^H7686 through strong drink, ^H7941 they are swallowed up ^H1104 of ^H4480 wine, ^H3196 they are out of the way ^H8582 through strong drink; ^H7941 they err ^H7686 in vision, ^H7203 they stumble ^H6328 in judgment. ^H6417

⁸ For all tables ^H7979 are full ^H4390 of vomit ^H6892 and filthiness, ^H6675 so that there is no place ^H4725 clean.

⁹ Whom shall he teach ^H3384 knowledge? ^H1844 and whom shall he make to understand ^H995 doctrine? ^H8052 them that are weaned ^H1580 from the milk, ^H2461 and drawn ^H6267 from the breasts. ^H7699

¹⁰ For precept ^H6673 must be upon precept, ^H6673 precept ^H6673 upon precept; ^H6673 line ^H6957 upon line, ^H6957 line ^H6957 upon line; ^H6957 here a little, ^H2191 and there a little: ^H2191

¹¹ For with stammering ^H3934 lips ^H8193 and another ^H312 tongue ^H3956 will he speak ^H1696 to this people. ^H5971

¹² To whom he said, ^H559 This is the rest ^H4496 wherewith ye may cause the weary ^H5889 to rest; ^H5117 and this is the refreshing: ^H4774 yet they would ^H14 not hear. ^H8085

¹³ But the word ^H1697 of the LORD ^H3068 was unto them precept ^H6673 upon precept, ^H6673 precept ^H6673 upon precept; ^H6673 line ^H6957 upon line, ^H6957 line ^H6957 upon line; ^H6957 here a little, ^H2191 and there a little; ^H2191 that they might go, ^H3212 and fall ^H3782 backward, ^H268 and be broken, ^H7665 and snared, ^H3369 and taken. ^H3920

¹⁴ Wherefore hear ^H8085 the word ^H1697 of the LORD, ^H3068 ye scornful ^H3944 men, ^H582 that rule ^H4910 this people ^H5971 which is in Jerusalem. ^H3389

¹⁵ Because ye have said, ^H559 We have made ^H3772 a covenant ^H1285 with death, ^H4194 and with hell ^H7585 are we ^H6213 at agreement; ^H2374 when the overflowing ^H7857 scourge ^{H7752 H7885} shall pass through, ^{H5674 H5674} it shall not come ^H935 unto us: for we have made ^H7760 lies ^H3577 our refuge, ^H4268 and under falsehood ^H8267 have we hid ^H5641 ourselves:

¹⁶ Therefore thus saith ^H559 the Lord ^H136 GOD, ^H3069 Behold, I lay ^H3245 in Zion ^H6726 for a foundation a stone, ^H68 a tried ^H976 stone, ^H68 a precious ^H3368 corner ^H6438 stone, a sure ^H3245 foundation: ^H4143 he that believeth ^H539 shall not make haste. ^H2363

¹⁷ Judgment ^H4941 also will I lay ^H7760 to the line, ^H6957 and righteousness ^H6666 to the plummet: ^H4949 and the hail ^H1259 shall sweep away ^H3261 the refuge ^H4268 of lies, ^H3577 and the waters ^H4325 shall overflow ^H7857 the hiding place. ^H5643

¹⁸ And your covenant ^H1285 with death ^H4194 shall be disannulled, ^H3722 and your agreement ^H2380 with hell ^H7585 shall not stand; ^H6965 when the overflowing ^H7857 scourge ^H7752 shall pass through, ^H5674 then ye shall be trodden down ^H4823 by it.

¹⁹ From the time ^H1767 that it goeth forth ^H5674 it shall take ^H3947 you: for morning ^H1242 by morning ^H1242 shall it pass over, ^H5674 by day ^H3117 and by night: ^H3915 and it shall be a vexation ^H2113 only to understand ^H995 the report. ^H8052

²⁰ For the bed ^H4702 is shorter ^H7114 than that a man can stretch ^H8311 himself on it: and the covering ^H4541 narrower ^H6887 than that he can wrap ^H3664 himself in it.

²¹ For the LORD ^H3068 shall rise up ^H6965 as in mount ^H2022 Perazim, ^H6559 he shall be wroth ^H7264 as in the valley ^H6010 of Gibeon, ^H1391 that he may do ^H6213 his work, ^H4639 his strange ^H2114 work; ^H4639 and bring to pass ^H5647 his act, ^H5656 his strange ^H5237 act. ^H5656

²² Now therefore be ye not mockers, ^H3887 lest your bands ^H4147 be made strong: ^H2388 for I have heard ^H8085 from the Lord ^H136 GOD ^H3069 of hosts ^H6635 a consumption, ^H3617 even determined ^H2782 upon the whole earth. ^H776

²³ Give ye ear, ^H238 and hear ^H8085 my voice; ^H6963 hearken, ^H7181 and hear ^H8085 my speech. ^H565

²⁴ Doth the plowman ^H2790 plow ^H2790 all day ^H3117 to sow? ^H2232 doth he open ^H6605 and break the clods ^H7702 of his ground? ^H127

²⁵ When he hath made plain ^H7737 the face ^H6440 thereof, doth he not cast abroad ^H6327 the fitches, ^H7100 and scatter ^H2236 the cummin, ^H3646 and cast ^H7760 in the principal ^H7795 wheat ^H2406 and the appointed ^H5567 barley ^H8184 and the rie ^H3698 in their place? ^H1367

²⁶ For his God ^H430 doth instruct ^H3256 him to discretion, ^H4941 and doth teach ^H3384 him.

²⁷ For the fitches ^H7100 are not threshed ^H1758 with a threshing instrument, ^H2742 neither is a cart ^H5699 wheel ^H212 turned about ^H5437 upon the cummin; ^H3646 but the fitches ^H7100 are beaten out ^H2251 with a staff, ^H4294 and the cummin ^H3646 with a rod. ^H7626

²⁸ Bread ^H3899 corn is bruised; ^H1854 because he will not ever ^H5331 be threshing ^{H156 H1758} it, nor break ^H2000 it with the wheel ^H1536 of his cart, ^H5699 nor bruise ^H1854 it with his horsemen. ^H6571

²⁹ This also cometh forth ^H3318 from the LORD ^H3068 of hosts, ^H6635 which is wonderful ^H6381 in counsel, ^H6098 and excellent ^H1431 in working. ^H8454

---

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 fat valley of them that are overcome with wine!

² Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one; as a tempest of hail, a destroying storm, as a tempest of mighty waters overflowing, will he cast down to the earth with the hand.

³ The crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim shall be trodden under foot:

⁴ and the fading flower of his glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be as the first-ripe fig before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up.

⁵ In that day will Jehovah of hosts become a crown of glory, and a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people;

⁶ and a spirit of justice to him that sitteth in judgment, and strength to them that turn back the battle at the gate.

⁷ And even these reel with wine, and stagger with strong drink; the priest and the prophet reel with strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they stagger with strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.

⁸ For all tables are full of vomit `and' filthiness, `so that there is' no place `clean'.

⁹ Whom will he teach knowledge? and whom will he make to understand the message? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts?

¹⁰ For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, there a little.

¹¹ Nay, but by `men of' strange lips and with another tongue will he speak to this people;

¹² to whom he said, This is the rest, give ye rest to him that is weary; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

¹³ Therefore shall the word of Jehovah be unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, there a little; that they may go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

¹⁴ Wherefore hear the word of Jehovah, ye scoffers, that rule this people that is in Jerusalem:

¹⁵ Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol 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:

¹⁶ therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner -`stone' of sure foundation: he that believeth shall not be in haste.

¹⁷ And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plummet; and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding-place.

¹⁸ And your covenant with death shall be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.

¹⁹ As often as it passeth though, it shall take you; for morning by morning shall it pass through, by day and by night: and it shall be nought but terror to understand the message.

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.

²¹ For Jehovah will rise up as in mount Perazim, he will 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.

²² Now therefore be ye not scoffers, lest your bonds be made strong; for a decree of destruction have I heard from the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, upon the whole earth.

²³ Give ye ear, and hear my voice; hearken, and hear my speech.

²⁴ Doth he that ploweth to sow plow continually? doth he `continually' open and harrow his ground?

²⁵ When he hath levelled the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and put in the wheat in rows, and the barley in the appointed place, and the spelt in the border thereof?

²⁶ For his God doth instruct him aright, `and' doth teach him.

²⁷ For the fitches are not threshed with a sharp `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.

²⁸ Bread `grain' is ground; for he will not be always threshing it: and though the wheel of his cart and his horses scatter it, he doth not grind it.

²⁹ This also cometh forth from Jehovah of hosts, who is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in wisdom.

---

¹ Wo `to' the proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim. And the fading flower of the beauty of his glory, That `is' on the head of the fat valley of the broken down of wine.

² Lo, a mighty and strong one `is' to the Lord, As a storm of hail -- a destructive shower, As an inundation of mighty waters overflowing, He cast down to the earth with the hand.

³ By feet trodden down is the proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim,

⁴ And the fading flower of the beauty of his glory That `is' on the head of the fat valley, Hath been as its first-fruit before summer, That its beholder seeth, While it `is' yet in his hand he swalloweth it.

⁵ In that day is Jehovah of Hosts For a crown of beauty, and for a diadem of glory, To the remnant of His people.

⁶ And for a spirit of judgment To him who is sitting in the judgment, And for might `to' those turning back the battle to the gate.

⁷ And even these through wine have erred, And through strong drink have wandered, Priest and prophet erred through strong drink, They have been swallowed up of the wine, They wandered because of the strong drink, They have erred in seeing, They have stumbled judicially.

⁸ For all tables have been full of vomit, Filth -- without place!

⁹ By whom doth He teach knowledge? And by whom doth He cause to understand the report? The weaned from milk, the removed from breasts,

¹⁰ For rule `is' on rule, rule on rule, line on line, line on line, A little here, a little there,

¹¹ For by scorned lip, and by another tongue, Doth He speak unto this people.

¹² Unto whom He hath said, `This `is' the rest, give ye rest to the weary, And this -- the refreshing:' And they have not been willing to hear,

¹³ And to whom a word of Jehovah hath been, Rule on rule, rule on rule, line on line, line on line, A little here, a little there, So that they go and have stumbled backward, And been broken, and snared, and captured.

¹⁴ Therefore, hear a word of Jehovah, ye men of scorning, Ruling this people that `is' in Jerusalem.

¹⁵ Because ye have said: `We have made a covenant with death, And with Sheol we have made a provision, An overflowing scourge, when it passeth over, Doth not meet us, Though we have made a lie our refuge, And in falsehood have been hidden.'

¹⁶ Therefore, thus said the Lord Jehovah: `Lo, I am laying a foundation in Zion, A stone -- a tried stone, a corner stone precious, a settled foundation, He who is believing doth not make haste.

¹⁷ And I have put judgment for a line, And righteousness for a plummet, And sweep away doth hail the refuge of lies, And the secret hiding-place do waters overflow.

¹⁸ And disannulled hath been your covenant with death, And your provision with Sheol doth not stand, An overflowing scourge, when it passeth over, Then ye have been to it for a treading-place.

¹⁹ From the fulness of its passing over it taketh you, For morning by morning it passeth over, By day and by night, And it hath been only a trembling to consider the report.

²⁰ For shorter hath been the bed Than to stretch one's self out in, And the covering hath been narrower Than to wrap one's self up in.

²¹ For as `at' mount Perazim rise doth Jehovah, As `at' the valley in Gibeon He is troubled, To do His work -- strange `is' His work, And to do His deed -- strange `is' His deed.'

²² And now, show not yourselves scorners, Lest strong be your bands, For a consumption, that is determined, I have heard, by the Lord, Jehovah of Hosts, `Is' for all the land.

²³ Give ear, and hear my voice, Attend, and hear my saying:

²⁴ The whole day plougheth the ploughman to sow? He openeth and harroweth his ground!

²⁵ Hath he not, if he have made level its face, Then scattered fitches, and cummin sprinkle, And hath placed the principal wheat, And the appointed barley, And the rie `in' its own border?

²⁶ And instruct him for judgment doth his God, He doth direct him.

²⁷ For not with a sharp-pointed thing threshed are fitches, And the wheel of a cart on cummin turned round, For with a staff beaten out are fitches, And cummin with a rod.

²⁸ Bread-`corn' is beaten small, For not for ever doth he sorely thresh it, Nor crushed `it' hath a wheel of his cart, Nor do his hoofs beat it small.

²⁹ Even this from Jehovah of Hosts hath gone out, He hath made counsel wonderful, He hath made wisdom great!

---

¹ Woe to the crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim, and to the fading flower of his glorious adornment, which is on the head of the fat valley of them that are overcome with wine.

² Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, as a storm of hail [and] a destroying tempest; as a storm of mighty waters overflowing, shall he cast down to the earth with might.

³ The crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim shall be trodden under feet;

⁴ and the fading flower of his glorious adornment which is on the head of the fat valley shall be like an early fig before the summer: as soon as he that seeth it perceiveth it, scarcely is it in his hand, he swalloweth it down.

⁵ In that day will Jehovah of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the 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.

⁷ But these also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are they gone astray. The priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink; they are overpowered by wine, they are gone astray through strong drink; they have erred in vision, they have stumbled [in] judgment.

⁸ For all tables are full of filthy vomit, so that there is no [more] place.

⁹ Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand the report? Them that are weaned from the milk, withdrawn from the breasts?

¹⁰ For [it is] precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, there a little. ...

¹¹ For with stammering lips and a strange tongue will he speak to this people;

¹² to whom he said, This is the rest: cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing. But they would not hear.

¹³ And the word of Jehovah was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little: that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

¹⁴ Therefore hear the word of Jehovah, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.

¹⁵ For ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol have we made an 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.

¹⁶ Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I lay for foundation in Zion a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner-stone, a sure foundation: he that trusteth shall not make haste.

¹⁷ And I will appoint judgment for a line, and righteousness for a plummet; and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding-place.

¹⁸ And your covenant with death shall be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, ye shall be trodden down by it.

¹⁹ As it passeth through it shall take you; for morning by morning shall it pass through, by day and by night; and it shall be terror only to understand the report.

²⁰ For the bed is too short to stretch oneself on, and the covering too narrow when he would wrap himself in it.

²¹ For Jehovah will rise up as on mount Perazim, he will be moved with anger as in the valley of Gibeon; that he may do his work, his strange work, and perform his act, his unwonted act.

²² Now therefore be ye not scorners, lest your bonds be made strong; for I have heard from the Lord Jehovah of hosts a consumption, and [one] determined, upon the whole land.

²³ Give ear, and hear my voice; hearken, and hear my speech.

²⁴ Doth the ploughman plough all day to sow? Is he [all day] opening and breaking the clods of his land?

²⁵ Doth he not, when he hath levelled the face thereof, cast abroad dill, and scatter cummin, and set the wheat in rows, and the barley in an appointed place, and the rye in its border?

²⁶ His God doth instruct him in [his] judgment, he doth teach him.

²⁷ For the dill is not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither is a cart-wheel turned about upon the cummin; but dill is beaten out with a staff, and cummin with a rod.

²⁸ Bread [corn] is crushed, because he will not ever be threshing it; and if he drove the wheels of his cart and his horses [over it], he would not crush it.

²⁹ This also cometh forth from Jehovah of hosts; he is wonderful in counsel, great in wisdom.

---

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 fat valley of those who are overcome with wine!

² Behold, the Lord has a mighty and strong one; as a tempest of hail, a destroying storm, as a tempest of mighty waters overflowing, will he cast down to the earth with the hand.

³ The crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim shall be trodden under foot:

⁴ and the fading flower of his glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be as the first-ripe fig before the summer; which when he who looks on it sees, while it is yet in his hand he eats it up.

⁵ In that day will Yahweh of Hosts 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 Even these reel with wine, and stagger with strong drink; the priest and the prophet reel with strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they stagger with strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.

⁸ For all tables are full of vomit [and] filthiness, [so that there is] no place [clean].

⁹ Whom will he teach knowledge? and whom will he make to understand the message? those who are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts?

¹⁰ For it is precept on precept, precept on precept; line on line, line on line; here a little, there a little.

¹¹ No, but by [men of] strange lips and with another language will he speak to this people;

¹² to whom he said, This is the rest, give you rest to him who is weary; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

¹³ Therefore shall the word of Yahweh 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, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

¹⁴ Why hear the word of Yahweh, you scoffers, that rule this people that is in Jerusalem:

¹⁵ Because you have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come to us; for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:

¹⁶ therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner -[stone] of sure foundation: he who believes shall not be in haste.

¹⁷ I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plummet; and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding-place.

¹⁸ Your covenant with death shall be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then you shall be trodden down by it.

¹⁹ As often as it passes though, it shall take you; for morning by morning shall it pass through, by day and by night: and it shall be nothing but terror to understand the message.

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.

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 strange work, and bring to pass his act, his strange act.

²² Now therefore don't you be scoffers, lest your bonds be made strong; for a decree of destruction have I heard from the Lord, Yahweh of Hosts, on the whole earth.

²³ Give you ear, and hear my voice; listen, and hear my speech.

²⁴ Does he who plows to sow plow continually? does he [continually] open and harrow his ground?

²⁵ When he has leveled the surface of it, doesn't he cast abroad the dill, and scatter the cumin, and put in the wheat in rows, and the barley in the appointed place, and the spelt in the border of it?

²⁶ For his God does instruct him aright, [and] does teach him.

²⁷ For the dill are not threshed with a sharp [threshing] instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about on the cumin; but the dill are beaten out with a staff, and the cumin with a rod.

²⁸ Bread [grain] is ground; for he will not be always threshing it: and though the wheel of his cart and his horses scatter it, he does not grind it.

²⁹ This also comes forth from Yahweh of Hosts, who is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in wisdom.

---

¹ Ho! crown of pride of those who are given up to wine in Ephraim, and the dead flower of his glory which is on the head of those who are overcome by strong drink!

² See, the Lord has a strong and cruel one; like a rain of ice, a storm of destruction, like the overflowing of a strong river, he will violently overcome them.

³ The crown of pride of those who are given up to wine in Ephraim will be crushed under foot;

⁴ And the dead flower of his glory, which is on the head of the fertile valley, will be like the first early fruit before the summer; which a man takes and puts in his mouth the minute he sees it.

⁵ In that day will the Lord of armies be a crown of glory, and a fair ornament, to the rest of his people;

⁶ And a spirit of wisdom to the judge, and strength to those who keep back the attackers at the door of the town.

⁷ And further, these are uncertain through wine, and have gone out of the right way through strong drink: the priest and the prophet are uncertain through strong drink, they are overcome by wine, they have gone out of the way through strong drink; their vision is false, they go wrong in their decisions.

⁸ For all the tables are covered with coughed-up food, so that there is not a clean place.

⁹ To whom will he give knowledge? and to whom will he make clear the word? Will it be to those who have newly given up milk, and who have only now been taken from the breast?

¹⁰ For it is one rule after another; one line after another; here a little, there a little.

¹¹ No, but with broken talk, and with a strange tongue, he will give his word to this people:

¹² To whom he said, This is the rest, give rest to him who is tired; and by this you may get new strength; but they would not give ear.

¹³ For this cause the word of the Lord will be to them rule after rule, line after line, here a little, there a little; so that they may go on their way, and falling back may be broken, and taken in the net.

¹⁴ Give ear then to the word of the Lord, you men of pride, the rulers of this people in Jerusalem:

¹⁵ Because you have said, We have made death our friend, and with the underworld we have made an agreement; when the overflowing waters come through they will not come near us; for we are looking to false words for help, taking cover in what is untrue:

¹⁶ For this cause says the Lord God, See, I am placing in Zion as a base, a stone, a tested stone, an angle-stone which is certain and of great value: and he who has faith will not give way.

¹⁷ And I will make right decision the measuring-line, and righteousness the weight: and the ice-storm will take away the safe place of false words, and the secret place will be covered by the flowing waters.

¹⁸ And the help you were looking for from death will come to nothing, and your agreement with the underworld will be broken; when the overflowing waters come through, then you will be overcome by them.

¹⁹ Whenever they come through they will overtake you; for they will come through morning after morning, by day and by night: and the news will be nothing but fear.

²⁰ For the bed is not long enough for a man to be stretched out on: and the cover is not wide enough for him to be covered with.

²¹ For the Lord will come up as on Mount Perazim, he will be moved to wrath as in the valley of Gibeon; so that he may do his work--strange is his work; and give effect to his act--unnatural is his act.

²² And now, take care that you do not make sport of him, or your bands will be made strong; for I have had word from the Lord, the Lord of armies, of an end, of a complete end, which is to come on all the land.

²³ Let your ears be open to my voice; give attention to what I say.

²⁴ Is the ploughman for ever ploughing? does he not get the earth ready and broken up for the seed?

²⁵ When the face of the earth has been levelled, does he not put in the different sorts of seed, and the grain in lines, and the barley in its place, and the spelt at the edge?

²⁶ For his God is his teacher, giving him the knowledge of these things.

²⁷ For the fitches are not crushed with a sharp instrument, and a cart-wheel is not rolled over the cummin; but the grain of the fitches is hammered out with a stick, and of the cummin with a rod.

²⁸ Is the grain for bread crushed? He does not go on crushing it for ever, but he lets his cart-wheels and his horses go over it without crushing it.

²⁹ This comes from the Lord of armies, purposing wonders, and wise in all his acts.