The crown of the drunks
Trouble is coming to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower on the head of the fat valleys of those overcome with wine. Look: the LORD has one who is strong and mighty. Like a hailstorm, like a destroying gale, like a flood of mighty waters bursting through, he'll throw it down to the ground with his hand. The proud crown of Ephraim's drunks will be trampled underfoot. And the fading flower of his glorious beauty, on the head of the fat valley, will go like the first ripe fig before summer — whoever sees it swallows it the moment it's in his hand. In that day the LORD Almighty will be for a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty to the survivors of his people, and for a spirit of judgment to the one who sits in judgment, and for strength to those who turn the battle back at the gate. But they also have erred through wine and are out of the way through strong drink. Priest and prophet err through strong drink; they're swallowed up by wine, out of the way through strong drink, erring in vision and stumbling in judgment. Every table is covered in vomit and filth, and there's not a clean spot on it. Whom will he teach knowledge, and whom will he make to understand teaching? Those who are weaned from the milk and drawn from the breasts? For rule must be on rule, rule on rule; line on line, line on line; here a little and there a little. So with stammering lips and a foreign tongue he'll speak to this people — To them he said, ‘This is the rest with which you may cause the weary to rest, and this is the refreshing,’ yet they would not hear. So the word of the LORD to them will be: do this, do that, a rule here, a rule there, a bit here, a bit there — so that they'll go and fall over backwards and be broken and snared and caught.
Trouble is coming to the proud crown of Ephraim's drunks, to the fading flower of his glorious beauty, sitting on the head of the rich valley of men laid out by wine. Look — the Lord has one who is strong and mighty. Like a hailstorm, like a destroying gale, like a flood of mighty waters bursting through, he'll throw it down to the ground with his hand. The proud crown of Ephraim's drunks will be trampled underfoot. And the fading flower of his glorious beauty, on the head of the rich valley, will go like the first ripe fig before summer — the man who sees it swallows it the moment it's in his hand. On that day the Lord Almighty will be a crown of glory and a beautiful garland to what's left of his people, and a spirit of justice to the one sitting in judgment, and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate. But these too have gone reeling with wine and staggering with beer. Priest and prophet reel with beer, they're swallowed up with wine, they stagger with beer. They reel in their visions and stumble in their judgments. Every table is covered in vomit and filth, and there's not a clean spot on it. Who's he trying to teach knowledge to? Who's he explaining the message to? Kids just off the milk, just pulled from the breast? Because it's do this, do that, a rule here, a rule there, a bit here, a bit there. So with stammering lips and a foreign tongue he'll speak to this people — the people he said this to: Here's the rest. Give rest to the weary. Here's the place to settle. And they wouldn't listen. So the word of the Lord to them will be: do this, do that, a rule here, a rule there, a bit here, a bit there — so that they'll go and fall over backwards and be broken and snared and caught.
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! 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. The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet: 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. 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, And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate. 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. For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean. 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. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. 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. 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.
Trouble is coming to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower on the head of the fat valleys of those overcome with wine.
Trouble is coming to the proud crown of Ephraim's drunks, to the fading flower of his glorious beauty, sitting on the head of the rich valley of men laid out by wine.
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!
Look: the LORD has one who is strong and mighty. Like a hailstorm, like a destroying gale, like a flood of mighty waters bursting through, he'll throw it down to the ground with his hand.
Look — the Lord has one who is strong and mighty. Like a hailstorm, like a destroying gale, like a flood of mighty waters bursting through, he'll throw it down to the ground with his hand.
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.
The proud crown of Ephraim's drunks will be trampled underfoot.
The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet:
And the fading flower of his glorious beauty, on the head of the fat valley, will go like the first ripe fig before summer — whoever sees it swallows it the moment it's in his hand.
And the fading flower of his glorious beauty, on the head of the rich valley, will go like the first ripe fig before summer — the man who sees it swallows it the moment it's in his hand.
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.
In that day the LORD Almighty will be for a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty to the survivors of his people,
On that day the Lord Almighty will be a crown of glory and a beautiful garland to what's left of his people,
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,
and for a spirit of judgment to the one who sits in judgment, and for strength to those who turn the battle back at the gate.
and a spirit of justice to the one sitting in judgment, and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.
And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.
But they also have erred through wine and are out of the way through strong drink. Priest and prophet err through strong drink; they're swallowed up by wine, out of the way through strong drink, erring in vision and stumbling in judgment.
But these too have gone reeling with wine and staggering with beer. Priest and prophet reel with beer, they're swallowed up with wine, they stagger with beer. They reel in their visions and stumble in their judgments.
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.
Every table is covered in vomit and filth, and there's not a clean spot on it.
For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.
Whom will he teach knowledge, and whom will he make to understand teaching? Those who are weaned from the milk and drawn from the breasts?
Who's he trying to teach knowledge to? Who's he explaining the message to? Kids just off the milk, just pulled from the breast?
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.
For rule must be on rule, rule on rule; line on line, line on line; here a little and there a little.
Because it's do this, do that, a rule here, a rule there, a bit here, a bit there.
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
So with stammering lips and a foreign tongue he'll speak to this people —
For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
To them he said, ‘This is the rest with which you may cause the weary to rest, and this is the refreshing,’ yet they would not hear.
the people he said this to: Here's the rest. Give rest to the weary. Here's the place to settle. And they wouldn't listen.
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.
So the word of the LORD to them will be: do this, do that, a rule here, a rule there, a bit here, a bit there — so that they'll go and fall over backwards and be broken and snared and caught.
So the word of the Lord to them will be: do this, do that, a rule here, a rule there, a bit here, a bit there — so that they'll go and fall over backwards and be broken and snared and caught.
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.
The cornerstone in Zion
So listen to the word of the LORD, you scoffers ruling this people in Jerusalem. Because you have said, ‘We have made a covenant with death, and with the grave we have an agreement. When overwhelming disaster passes through, it won't come to us, because we've made lies our refuge and hidden ourselves under falsehood.’ So this is what the Lord GOD says: I'm laying a stone in Zion — a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a solid foundation. Whoever trusts in it won't panic. I will lay judgment to the line and righteousness to the plummet. The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters will overflow the hiding place. Your covenant with death will be cancelled, and your agreement with the grave will not stand. When overwhelming disaster passes through, you will be trampled by it. Every time it goes through it'll take you. It'll go through morning after morning, day and night. And working out the message will be nothing but terror. For the bed is shorter than a man can stretch himself on, and the covering narrower than he can wrap himself in. The LORD will rise up as he did at Mount Perazim and burn with anger as he did in the valley of Gibeon, to do his work — his strange work — and carry out his unusual task. So stop your scoffing, or your chains will be pulled tighter. Because I've heard from the LORD, the LORD Almighty, that destruction is decided on the whole land.
So listen to the word of the Lord, you scoffers ruling this people in Jerusalem. Because you've said: We've cut a deal with death, we've got an agreement with the grave. When the flooding scourge goes through it won't touch us, because we've made lies our refuge and hidden ourselves in falsehood. So this is what the Lord God says: Look — I'm laying a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation. Whoever trusts it won't panic. I'll make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb bob. Hail will sweep away your refuge of lies, and water will flood your hiding place. Your deal with death will be wiped out and your agreement with the grave won't stand. When the flooding scourge goes through, you'll be trampled by it. Every time it goes through it'll take you. It'll go through morning after morning, day and night. And working out the message will be nothing but terror. Because the bed's too short to stretch out on and the blanket's too narrow to wrap yourself in. Because the Lord will get up like he did at Mount Perazim and stir himself like in the valley of Gibeon, to do his work — his strange work — and get his job done, his odd job. So stop your scoffing, or your chains will be pulled tighter. Because I've heard from the Lord, the Lord Almighty, that destruction is decided on the whole land.
Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. 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: 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
So listen to the word of the LORD, you scoffers ruling this people in Jerusalem.
So listen to the word of the Lord, you scoffers ruling this people in Jerusalem.
Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.
Because you have said, ‘We have made a covenant with death, and with the grave we have an agreement. When overwhelming disaster passes through, it won't come to us, because we've made lies our refuge and hidden ourselves under falsehood.’
Because you've said: We've cut a deal with death, we've got an agreement with the grave. When the flooding scourge goes through it won't touch us, because we've made lies our refuge and hidden ourselves in falsehood.
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:
So this is what the Lord GOD says: I'm laying a stone in Zion — a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a solid foundation. Whoever trusts in it won't panic.
So this is what the Lord God says: Look — I'm laying a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation. Whoever trusts it won't panic.
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.
I will lay judgment to the line and righteousness to the plummet. The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters will overflow the hiding place.
I'll make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb bob. Hail will sweep away your refuge of lies, and water will flood your hiding place.
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.
Your covenant with death will be cancelled, and your agreement with the grave will not stand. When overwhelming disaster passes through, you will be trampled by it.
Your deal with death will be wiped out and your agreement with the grave won't stand. When the flooding scourge goes through, you'll be trampled by it.
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.
Every time it goes through it'll take you. It'll go through morning after morning, day and night. And working out the message will be nothing but terror.
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.
For the bed is shorter than a man can stretch himself on, and the covering narrower than he can wrap himself in.
Because the bed's too short to stretch out on and the blanket's too narrow to wrap yourself in.
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.
The LORD will rise up as he did at Mount Perazim and burn with anger as he did in the valley of Gibeon, to do his work — his strange work — and carry out his unusual task.
Because the Lord will get up like he did at Mount Perazim and stir himself like in the valley of Gibeon, to do his work — his strange work — and get his job done, his odd job.
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.
So stop your scoffing, or your chains will be pulled tighter. Because I've heard from the LORD, the LORD Almighty, that destruction is decided on the whole land.
So stop your scoffing, or your chains will be pulled tighter. Because I've heard from the Lord, the Lord Almighty, that destruction is decided on the whole land.
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.
The farmer and his God
Listen and hear my voice. Pay attention and hear what I'm saying. Does the farmer plough all day to sow? Does he keep breaking up and harrowing his ground? When he's levelled the surface, doesn't he scatter caraway and sow cumin, and put the wheat in rows and the barley in its place and the spelt round the edge? For his God instructs him in discretion and teaches him. Caraway isn't threshed with a sledge, and you don't run a cartwheel over cumin. Caraway is beaten out with a stick and cumin with a rod. Grain for bread has to be crushed — but he doesn't go on threshing it forever. He drives the cartwheel over it with his horses, but he doesn't grind it to nothing. This also comes from the LORD Almighty, who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working.
Listen and hear my voice. Pay attention and hear what I'm saying. Does the farmer plough all day to sow? Does he keep breaking up and harrowing his ground? When he's levelled the surface, doesn't he scatter caraway and sow cumin, and put the wheat in rows and the barley in its place and the spelt round the edge? His God instructs him properly and teaches him. Caraway isn't threshed with a sledge, and you don't run a cartwheel over cumin. Caraway is beaten out with a stick and cumin with a rod. Grain for bread has to be crushed — but he doesn't go on threshing it forever. He drives the cartwheel over it with his horses, but he doesn't grind it to nothing. This too comes from the Lord Almighty, whose counsel is wonderful and whose wisdom is great.
Give ye ear, and hear my voice; hearken, and hear my speech. Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? doth he open and break the clods of his ground? 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? For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him. 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. 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. This also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.
Listen and hear my voice. Pay attention and hear what I'm saying.
Give ye ear, and hear my voice; hearken, and hear my speech.
Does the farmer plough all day to sow? Does he keep breaking up and harrowing his ground?
Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? doth he open and break the clods of his ground?
When he's levelled the surface, doesn't he scatter caraway and sow cumin, and put the wheat in rows and the barley in its place and the spelt round the edge?
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?
For his God instructs him in discretion and teaches him.
His God instructs him properly and teaches him.
For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him.
Caraway isn't threshed with a sledge, and you don't run a cartwheel over cumin. Caraway is beaten out with a stick and cumin with a rod.
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.
Grain for bread has to be crushed — but he doesn't go on threshing it forever. He drives the cartwheel over it with his horses, but he doesn't grind it to nothing.
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.
This also comes from the LORD Almighty, who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working.
This too comes from the Lord Almighty, whose counsel is wonderful and whose wisdom is great.
This also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.