1Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, who are situated at the head of the fertile valleys of those who are overcome with wine! 2Behold, the LORD has a mighty and mighty one (the king of Assyria), who like a tempest of hail and a destructive storm, or an overflowing flood of mighty waters, shall hurl (the drunks of Ephraim) down to the ground. 3The crown (Samaria), the pride of the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trampled underfoot; 4And the fading flower of that glorious beauty, which is at the head of the fertile valley, shall be like early figs before summer, which, when they are gathered while still in their hand, are eaten.

5In that day shall the LORD Almighty be a glorious crown, and a beautiful diadem (wreath) to the remnant of His people, 6And He will be a spirit of justice to those who sit in judgment, and for strength to those who guard the gate.

7But Israel is also led by drunks who have erred through wine, and strong drink. The priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink; they lose themselves in wine and strong drink, they reel from their visions, they stumble in judgment. 8All tables are covered with vomit and filthiness, so that there is no clean space. 9“Who does the LORD think we are?”, they ask. “Why does He speak to us like we are little children, just recently weaned? 10For He repeats precept upon precept – do this, do that; a rule for this; a rule for that; here a little, and there a little.” 11So now He will have to speak to His people through the foreign lips and language of their (Assyrian) conquerors. 12Because He said to them, “This is the resting place where you may let the weary rest; and this is the refreshing”; but they would not listen. 13And so the word of the LORD would become to them as precept upon precept, – do this, do that; a rule for this; a rule for that; here a little, and there a little; so that as they go, they might not stumble, fall backward, be broken, snared, and captured.

14Therefore, hear the word of the LORD, you scornful men that rule the people in Jerusalem. 15Because you boast, “We have made a covenant with death; and with the grave we have made a deal, when the overwhelming scourge sweeps through, it cannot touch us; for we have made lies our refuge, and falsehood is our hiding place.” 16And so this is what the LORD God says, “Look, I lay a Stone in Zion, a tried and tested Stone, a precious Cornerstone, for a sure Foundation; he that believes shall never be in panic. 17I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plumb line; and the hail shall sweep away your refuge of lies, and water shall overflow your hiding place. 18And your covenant with death shall be annulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overwhelming scourge sweeps through, you shall be mowed down by it. 19As often as it comes, it shall carry you away; for morning by morning, and by day and by night shall it sweep through, and the understanding of this message shall bring sheer terror. 20For the bed is too short for a man to stretch himself out on; and the covers too narrow to wrap up in.” 21For the LORD shall rise up as He did at Mount Perazim (2 Sam.5:20), He shall be aroused as in the valley of Gibeon (Joshua 10:10-12), that He may do His work, His unusual task; and bring to pass His act, His unusual act. 22Now stop your scoffing, or your chains will be made heavier; for I (Isaiah) have heard from the LORD God Almighty of the destruction that is determined upon the whole land.

23Listen, and hear my words; pay attention to what I say. 24Does the farmer always plow and never sow? Does he not break open the clods of dirt as he works his soil? 25When he has levelled the surface of it, does he not spread abroad the dill, the cummin, and sow the best wheat in rows and the barley and the spelt (rye) in their appointed place? 26For his God teaches him the right way. 27For the dill (fitches) is not threshed with a threshing instrument, nor is a cart wheel rolled upon the cummin; but the dill is threshed out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod. 28Bread grain must be ground; because one would be forever threshing it, nor break it with the wheel of his cart, nor grind it with the hooves of his horses. 29All this also comes from the LORD Almighty, Whose wisdom is wonderful; and His counsel is excellent.