Isaiah 28

¹Woe to the majestic crown of Ephraim’s drunkards, to the fading flower of his glorious splendor, set on the summit above the fertile valley, the pride of those overcome by wine.

²Behold, the Lord has one who is strong and mighty. Like a hailstorm or destructive tempest, like a driving rain or flooding downpour, he will smash that crown to the ground.

³The majestic crown of Ephraim’s drunkards will be trampled underfoot.

⁴The fading flower of his beautiful splendor, set on the summit above the fertile valley, will be like a ripe fig before the summer harvest: Whoever sees it will take it in his hand and swallow it.

⁵On that day the LORD of Hosts will be a crown of glory, a diadem of splendor to the remnant of His people,

⁶a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and a strength to those who repel the onslaught at the gate.

⁷These also stagger from wine and stumble from strong drink: Priests and prophets reel from strong drink and are befuddled by wine. They stumble because of strong drink, muddled in their visions and stumbling in their judgments.

⁸For all their tables are covered with vomit; there is not a place without filth.

⁹Whom is He trying to teach? To whom is He explaining His message? To infants just weaned from milk? To babies removed from the breast?

¹⁰For they hear: “Order on order, order on order, line on line, line on line; a little here, a little there.”

¹¹Indeed, with mocking lips and foreign tongues, He will speak to this people