Isaiah 28:1-13

New International Version

Woe to the Leaders of Ephraim and Judah

28 Woe^(A) to that wreath, the pride of Ephraim’s^(B) drunkards,
    to the fading flower, his glorious beauty,
set on the head of a fertile valley^(C)—
    to that city, the pride of those laid low by wine!^(D)
²See, the Lord has one who is powerful^(E) and strong.
    Like a hailstorm^(F) and a destructive wind,^(G)
like a driving rain and a flooding^(H) downpour,
    he will throw it forcefully to the ground.
³That wreath, the pride of Ephraim’s^(I) drunkards,
    will be trampled^(J) underfoot.
⁴That fading flower, his glorious beauty,
    set on the head of a fertile valley,^(K)
will be like figs^(L) ripe before harvest—
    as soon as people see them and take them in hand,
    they swallow them.

⁵In that day^(M) the Lord Almighty
    will be a glorious^(N) crown,^(O)
a beautiful wreath
    for the remnant^(P) of his people.
⁶He will be a spirit of justice^(Q)
    to the one who sits in judgment,^(R)
a source of strength
    to those who turn back the battle^(S) at the gate.

⁷And these also stagger^(T) from wine^(U)
    and reel^(V) from beer:
Priests^(W) and prophets^(X) stagger from beer
    and are befuddled with wine;
they reel from beer,
    they stagger when seeing visions,^(Y)
    they stumble when rendering decisions.
⁸All the tables are covered with vomit^(Z)
    and there is not a spot without filth.

⁹“Who is it he is trying to teach?^(AA)
    To whom is he explaining his message?^(AB)
To children weaned^(AC) from their milk,^(AD)
    to those just taken from the breast?
¹⁰For it is:
    Do this, do that,
    a rule for this, a rule for that^[a];
    a little here, a little there.^(AE)”

¹¹Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues^(AF)
    God will speak to this people,^(AG)
¹²to whom he said,
    “This is the resting place, let the weary rest”;^(AH)
and, “This is the place of repose”—
    but they would not listen.
¹³So then, the word of the Lord to them will become:
    Do this, do that,
    a rule for this, a rule for that;
    a little here, a little there^(AI)—
so that as they go they will fall backward;
    they will be injured^(AJ) and snared and captured.^(AK)