Isaiah 28

1 Woe [a cry of sorrow, a lament] to the majestic [exalted, lofty] crown of Ephraim’s [doubly fruitful, referring to Joseph’s son] drunkards [intoxicated, overcome with wine], to the fading [withering, losing strength] flower of his glorious [beautiful, splendid] splendor [beauty, glory], set [placed, established] on the summit [the highest point, the top] above [over, upon] the fertile [productive, rich] valley [a low area of land, a gorge], the pride [arrogance, self-importance] of those overcome [conquered, defeated] by wine [intoxicating drink]. word study 2 Behold [look, pay attention], the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign God] has one who is strong [cruel, severe] and mighty [powerful, courageous]. Like a hailstorm [a storm of hail, a destroying whirlwind] or destructive tempest [a whirlewind that overthrows], like a driving rain [a flood of mighty waters] or flooding downpour [an overwhelming flood], he will smash that crown [the pride of the nation] to the ground [the earth, the land]. word study 3 The [proud] majestic crown of Ephraim’s [doubly fruitful, referring to Joseph’s son] drunkards [intoxicated, given up to wine] will be [violently] trampled [tread on, crushed] underfoot [by feet, in a humiliating manner]. word study 4 The fading [withering, losing strength] flower [blossom, symbol of beauty] of his beautiful [glorious, lovely] splendor [beauty, honor], set [placed, situated] on the summit [head, top] above the fertile [rich, productive] valley [lowland, gorge], will be like a ripe [mature, ready to eat] fig [fruit, produce] before [prior to, preceding] the summer harvest [warm season]: Whoever [anyone who, he that] sees [looks, gazes] it will take [pick, grasp] it in his hand [palm, grasp] and swallow [eat, devour] it. word study 5 On that day [in the future, at a specific time] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces] will be a crown [royal honor] of glory [beauty, splendor], a diadem [royal crown] of splendor [beauty, glory] to the remnant [surviving ones, those left behind] of His people [nation, community], word study 6 a spirit [of wisdom, breath of life] of justice [righteous judgment, God’s mishpat] to him who sits [dwells, remains] in judgment [at the seat of authority], and a strength [might, power] to those who repel [turn back, return from] the onslaught [battle, war] at the gate [city entrance, place of defense]. word study 7 These also [even, too] stagger from wine [intoxicating beverage, fermented drink] and stumble from strong drink [intensely alcoholic liquor]: Priests [spiritual leaders, mediators] and prophets [messengers of God, seers] reel from strong drink [causing intoxication] and are befuddled by wine [affecting their minds]. They stumble because of strong drink [causing them to err], muddled in their visions [receiving false or unclear revelations] and stumbling in their judgments [failing to decide rightly, lacking discernment]. word study 8 For [because of this reason] all [every single one] their tables [places of feasting, sacred spaces] are covered [filled to the point of overflowing] with vomit [filthy, disgusting waste]; there is not [no single instance of] a place [location, area] without [lacking, devoid of] filth [moral pollution, uncleanness]. word study 9 Whom is He trying to teach [give knowledge to, instruct]? To whom is He explaining [making to understand, revealing] His message [tidings, news]? To infants [babies, young children] just weaned [removed, taken away] from milk [nourishment, sustenance]? To babies [little ones, newborns] removed [drawn away, taken] from the breast [nourishing, caring]? word study 10 For they hear: “Order [precept, command] on order, order on order, line [cord, rule] on line, line on line; a little [small in quantity] here, a little there [in that place].” word study 11 Indeed, with [stammering, scorned] mocking lips [language, edge of something] and [another] foreign tongues [used for eating, speaking, or describing a language], He will speak [communicate, promise] to [toward, in the direction of] this [specific, particular] people [nation, group of individuals] word study 12 to whom He has said: “This [the promised haven] is the place of rest [a state of quietness, peaceful home], let the weary [exhausted, faint] rest; this [the refreshing haven] is the place of repose [rest, refreshing rest].” But they would [were unwilling, did not consent] not listen [hear, obey, give attention]. word study 13 Then the word [divine message, command] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] to them will become: “Order [precept, command] on order, order on order, line [cord, rule] on line, line on line; a little [small amount, brief time] here, a little there,” so that they will go stumbling [trip, fall] backward [in reverse, away from God] and will be injured [broken, shattered], ensnared [trapped, caught], and captured [seized, taken]. word study 14 Therefore [so, thus, in this manner] hear [listen and obey] the word [message, declaration] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], O scoffers [scornful men, those who mock] who rule [govern, have power over] this people [nation, community] in Jerusalem [the city of peace, the capital of Palestine]. word study 15 For you said, “We have made a [formal, binding] covenant [agreement, pact] with death [the state of being dead, eternal separation from God]; we have fashioned an [official, contractual] agreement [treaty, alliance] with Sheol [the underworld, the place of the dead]. When the overwhelming [devastating, crushing] scourge [whip, punishment] passes through it will not touch us, because we have made lies [falsehoods, deceptions] our refuge [safe haven, shelter] and falsehood [deception, untruth] our hiding place [secret location, concealment].” word study 16 So this is what the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign Master] GOD [Yehovah] says: “See [look, behold], I lay [place, establish] a stone [a rock, a foundation] in Zion [the city of God, the mountain of His holiness], a tested [tried, proven] stone, a precious [valuable, highly esteemed] cornerstone [a chief foundation stone], a sure [firm, reliable] foundation; the one who believes [has faith, trusts] will never be shaken [hasten, disturbed]. word study 17 I will make justice [righteous judgment, moral integrity] the measuring line [a cord or line for measuring] and righteousness [virtue, moral uprightness] the level [a plummet, a tool for ensuring straightness]. Hail [a sign of God’s judgment] will sweep away [brush aside, destroy] your refuge [safe place, shelter] of lies [falsehood, deception], and water [a source of refreshment] will flood [overflow, gush] your hiding place [secret place, place of concealment]. word study 18 Your [agreement, pact] covenant [promise, treaty] with death [the state of being dead, separation from God] will be dissolved [annulled, cancelled], and your [arrangement, understanding] agreement [contract, pact] with Sheol [the underworld, the grave] will not stand [endure, remain]. When the [devastating] overwhelming scourge [whip, punishment] passes through, you will be trampled [trodden down, oppressed] by it. word study 19 As often as it passes [crosses over, transitions] through, it will carry you away [overtake, seize]; it will sweep through [rush by, pass over] morning [at the break of day, a new beginning] after morning, by day [a literal 24-hour period] and by night [a period of darkness, adversity].” The understanding [discerning, knowing with your mind] of this message [report, tidings] will bring [result in, cause] sheer terror [trembling, fear, horror, a state of agitation]. word study 20 Indeed, the bed [too short to stretch out on, a place of rest] is too short [insufficient, lacking] to stretch out on [to extend, to lie down], and the blanket [covering, a means of warmth] too small [narrow, confined] to wrap around you [to cover, to envelop]. word study 21 For the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] will rise up [stand in power] as at Mount Perazim [a mountain of divine victory]. He will rouse Himself [be stirred to action] as in the Valley of Gibeon [a place of spiritual awakening], to do His work [His divine task], His strange work [an unusual and surprising act], and to perform His task [bring to pass His plan], His disturbing task [a work that shakes and astonishes]. word study 22 So now [at this time, in this moment], do not [refrain from, cease] mock [scorn, ridicule, or make fun of], or [lest, beware that] your shackles [bonds, restraints, or chains] will become heavier [stronger, more severe]. Indeed [truly, certainly], I have heard [listened to, received a message] from the Lord [Adonay, the supreme Ruler] GOD [Yehovah] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces, or divine power] a decree [judgment, decision, or sentence] of destruction [consumption, devastation, or ruin] against [upon, or directed towards] the whole [entire, all-inclusive] land [earth, territory, or region]. word study 23 Listen [give ear, hearken] and hear [pay attention to, obey] my voice [sound, speech]. Pay attention [listen carefully, hearken] and hear [give heed to, listen to] what I say [my word, my speech]. word study 24 Does the plowman [farmer, cultivator] plow [to till, to break up the soil] for planting [to sow, to scatter seed] every day [all the time, continually]? Does he continuously [always, without ceasing] loosen [to open, to break up] and harrow [to break up clods, to prepare the soil] the soil [the land, the earth]? word study 25 When he has leveled [made plain, smoothed out] its surface, does he not sow [scatter seeds of] caraway [dill, a type of herb] and scatter [disperse, spread out] cumin [a seed used as a condiment]? He plants [puts in order, arranges] wheat [a type of grain] in rows [lines, a measured arrangement] and barley [a staple grain] in plots [appointed places, designated areas], and rye [spelt, a type of grain] within its border [boundary, designated limit]. word study 26 For his God [the supreme Elohim, his Creator] instructs [teaches, guides] and teaches [directs, shows] him properly [to discretion, in right judgment, aright]. word study 27 Surely caraway [dill or fennelflower] is not threshed with a sledge [a heavy tool], and the wheel of a cart [a wheeled vehicle] is not rolled over the cumin [a seed used as a condiment]. But caraway is beaten out with a stick [a staff], and cumin with a rod [a tool for punishment or guidance]. word study 28 Grain [bread corn, food for bread] for bread must be ground [bruised, crushed], but it is not [never] endlessly [for perpetuity, forever] threshed [trodden, beaten]. Though the wheels [cart wheels, whirlwind] of the cart [wheeled vehicle, wagon] roll over it, the horses [horsemen, cavalry] do not [will not] crush [pulverize, bruise] it. word study 29 This [even, too] also comes from the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [armies, large groups], who is wonderful [causing awe, amazing] in counsel [advice, plan, purpose] and excellent [great, magnificent] in wisdom [sound knowledge, efficient understanding]. word study