1
Ah, the proud garland of the drunkards of Ephraim,
and the fading flower of its glorious beauty,
which is on the head of those bloated with rich food, of those overcome with wine!
2
See, the Lord has one who is mighty and strong;
like a storm of hail, a destroying tempest,
like a storm of mighty, overflowing waters;
with his hand he will hurl them down to the earth.
3
Trampled under foot will be
the proud garland of the drunkards of Ephraim.
4
And the fading flower of its glorious beauty,
which is on the head of those bloated with rich food,
will be like a first-ripe fig before the summer;
whoever sees it, eats it up
as soon as it comes to hand.
5
In that day the
and a diadem of beauty, to the remnant of his people;
6
and a spirit of justice to the one who sits in judgment,
and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.
7
These also reel with wine
and stagger with strong drink;
the priest and the prophet reel with strong drink,
they are confused with wine,
they stagger with strong drink;
they err in vision,
they stumble in giving judgment.
8
All tables are covered with filthy vomit;
no place is clean.
9
"Whom will he teach knowledge,
and to whom will he explain the message?
Those who are weaned from milk,
those taken from the breast?
10
For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept,
line upon line, line upon line,
here a little, there a little." 1
11
Truly, with stammering lip
and with alien tongue
he will speak to this people,
12
to whom he has said,
"This is rest;
give rest to the weary;
and this is repose";
yet they would not hear.
13
Therefore the word of the
"Precept upon precept, precept upon precept,
line upon line, line upon line,
here a little, there a little;" 2
in order that they may go, and fall backward,
and be broken, and snared, and taken.