Woe to Samaria

28 Woe to the majestic crown of Ephraim’s drunkards,(A)
and to the fading flower of its beautiful splendor,
which is on the summit above the rich valley.
Woe to those overcome with wine.
Look, the Lord has a strong and mighty one(B)
like a devastating hail storm,
like a storm with strong flooding water.
He will bring it across the land with his hand.
The majestic crown of Ephraim’s drunkards
will be trampled underfoot.
The fading flower of his beautiful splendor,
which is on the summit above the rich valley,
will be like a ripe fig before the summer harvest.(C)
Whoever sees it will swallow it
while it is still in his hand.
On that day
the Lord of Armies will become a crown of beauty
and a diadem of splendor(D)
to the remnant of his people,
a spirit of justice
to the one who sits in judgment,(E)
and strength
to those who repel attacks at the city gate.

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Judgment on Corrupt Rulers, Priests, and Prophets

28 Woe to the proud garland of the drunkards of Ephraim
    and the fading flower of its glorious beauty,
    at the head of the fertile valley,
    those overcome with wine!(A)
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 force he will hurl them down to the earth.(B)
Trampled under foot will be
    the proud garland of the drunkards of Ephraim.(C)
And the fading flower of its glorious beauty,
    at the head of the fertile valley,
will be like a first-ripe fig before the summer;
    whoever sees it eats it up
    as soon as it comes to hand.(D)

On that day the Lord of hosts will be a garland of glory
    and a diadem of beauty to the remnant of his people(E)
and a spirit of justice to the one who sits in judgment
    and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.(F)

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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)
See, 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.
That wreath, the pride of Ephraim’s(I) drunkards,
    will be trampled(J) underfoot.
That 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.

In that day(M) the Lord Almighty
    will be a glorious(N) crown,(O)
a beautiful wreath
    for the remnant(P) of his people.
He 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.

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