book of woes: or, historical discourses relating to asshur and the egyptian alliance.—chaps. xxviii.–xxxiii.
The First Woe.—Judgment upon Samaria and Jerusalem, and Consolation for Both.—Chap. xxviii.
1. Woe to the proud crown of the drunken of Ephraim, and to the fading flower of its splendid ornament, which is upon the head of the luxuriant valley of those slain with wine.
2. Behold, the Lord holds a strong and mighty thing like a hailstorm, a pestilent tempest; like a storm of mighty overflowing waters, He casts down to the earth with almighty hand. 3. With feet they tread down the proud crown of the drunken of Ephraim. 4. And it happens to the fading flower of its splendid ornament, which is upon the head of the luxuriant valley, as to an early fig before it is harvest, which whosoever sees it looks at, and it is no longer in his hand than he swallows it.
5. In that day will Jehovah of hosts be the adorning crown and the splendid diadem to the remnant of His people; 6. and the spirit of justice to them that sit on the judgment-seat, and heroic strength to them that drive back war at the gate.
7. And they also reel with wine, and are giddy with meth; priest and prophet reel with meth, reel when seeking visions, stagger when pronouncing judgment. 8. For all tables are full of filthy vomit, without any more place.
9. Whom then would He teach knowledge? And to whom make preaching intelligible? To those weaned from the milk. To those removed from the breast. 10. For precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, a little here, a little there?
11. For through men stammering in speech, and through a strange tongue will He speak to this people. 12. He who said to them, There is rest, give rest to weary ones, and there is refreshing! But they would not hear. 13. Therefore the word of Jehovah becomes to them precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, a little here, a little there, that they may go and stumble backwards, and be wrecked to pieces, and be snared and taken.
14. Therefore hear the word of Jehovah, ye scornful lords, rulers of this people which is in Jerusalem! 15. For ye say, We have made a covenant with death, and with Hades we have come to an agreement. The swelling scourge, when it cometh hither, will do us no harm: for we have made a lie our shelter, and in deceit have we hidden ourselves. 16. Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I am He who laid in Zion a stone, a stone of trial, a precious corner-stone of well-founded founding; whoever believes will not have to move. 17. And I make justice the line, and righteousness the level; and hail sweeps away the refuge of lies, and the hiding-place is washed away by waters.
18. And your covenant with death is struck out, and your agreement with Hades will not stand; the swelling scourge when it comes, ye will become a thing trodden down to it. 19. And as often as it passes it takes you: for every morning it passes, by day and by night; and it is nothing but shuddering to hear such preaching. 20. For the bed is too short to stretch in, and the covering too tight when a man wraps himself in it.