¹⁴ Therefore hear the word of the Lord,^(A) you scoffers^(B)
    who rule this people in Jerusalem.
¹⁵ You boast, “We have entered into a covenant with death,^(C)
    with the realm of the dead we have made an agreement.
When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by,^(D)
    it cannot touch us,
for we have made a lie^(E) our refuge
    and falsehood^[a] our hiding place.^(F)”

“See, I lay a stone in Zion,^(G) a tested stone,^(H)
    a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;^(I)
the one who relies on it
    will never be stricken with panic.^(J)
17 I will make justice^(K) the measuring line
    and righteousness the plumb line;^(L)
hail^(M) will sweep away your refuge, the lie,
    and water will overflow^(N) your hiding place.
¹⁸ Your covenant with death will be annulled;
    your agreement with the realm of the dead will not stand.^(O)
When the overwhelming scourge sweeps by,^(P)
    you will be beaten down^(Q) by it.
¹⁹ As often as it comes it will carry you away;^(R)
    morning after morning,^(S) by day and by night,
    it will sweep through.”

The understanding of this message
    will bring sheer terror.^(T)
20 The bed is too short to stretch out on,
    the blanket too narrow to wrap around you.^(U)
21 The Lord will rise up as he did at Mount Perazim,^(V)
    he will rouse himself as in the Valley of Gibeon^(W)—
to do his work,^(X) his strange work,
    and perform his task, his alien task.
²² Now stop your mocking,^(Y)
    or your chains will become heavier;
the Lord, the Lord Almighty, has told me
    of the destruction decreed^(Z) against the whole land.^(AA)

²³ Listen^(AB) and hear my voice;
    pay attention and hear what I say.
²⁴ When a farmer plows for planting,^(AC) does he plow continually?
    Does he keep on breaking up and working the soil?
²⁵ When he has leveled the surface,
    does he not sow caraway and scatter cumin?^(AD)
Does he not plant wheat in its place,^[b]
    barley^(AE) in its plot,^[c]
    and spelt^(AF) in its field?
²⁶ His God instructs him
    and teaches^(AG) him the right way.

²⁷ Caraway is not threshed^(AH) with a sledge,^(AI)
    nor is the wheel of a cart rolled over cumin;
caraway is beaten out with a rod,^(AJ)
    and cumin with a stick.
²⁸ Grain must be ground to make bread;
    so one does not go on threshing it forever.
The wheels of a threshing cart^(AK) may be rolled over it,
    but one does not use horses to grind grain.
²⁹ All this also comes from the Lord Almighty,
    whose plan is wonderful,^(AL)
    whose wisdom is magnificent.^(AM)