¹⁴ Therefore hear the word of the Lord,^(A) you scoffers^(B)
who rule this people in Jerusalem.
¹⁵ For you said, “We have made a covenant with Death,
and we have an agreement with Sheol;
when the overwhelming catastrophe^[a] passes through,^(C)
it will not touch us,
because we have made falsehood our refuge
and have hidden behind treachery.”
¹⁶ Therefore the Lord God said:
“Look, I have laid a stone^(D) in Zion,
a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation;^(E)
the one who believes will be unshakable.^[b](F)
17 And I will make justice the measuring line
and righteousness the mason’s level.”^(G)
Hail will sweep away the false refuge,
and water will flood your hiding place.
¹⁸ Your covenant with Death will be dissolved,
and your agreement with Sheol will not last.
When the overwhelming catastrophe passes through,
you will be trampled.
¹⁹ Every time it passes through,
it will carry you away;
it will pass through every morning—
every day and every night.
Only terror^(H) will cause you
to understand the message.^[c]
20 Indeed, the bed is too short to stretch out on,
and its cover too small to wrap up in.
²¹ For the Lord will rise up as he did at Mount Perazim.^(I)
He will rise in wrath, as at the Valley of Gibeon,^(J)
to do his work, his unexpected work,
and to perform his task, his unfamiliar task.
²² So now, do not scoff,
or your shackles will become stronger.
Indeed, I have heard from the Lord God of Armies
a decree of destruction for the whole land.^(K)

¹⁸ The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me^[b]
to proclaim release^[c] to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set free the oppressed,
¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.^[d](G)