Ephraim’s Captivity Predicted

28 Woe to the proud crown of the (A)habitually drunk of (B)Ephraim,
And to the fading flower of its glorious beauty,
Which is at the head of the [a]fertile valley
Of those who are [b]overcome with wine!
Behold, the Lord has a strong and (C)mighty agent;
As a storm of (D)hail, a tempest of destruction,
Like a storm of (E)mighty overflowing waters,
He has thrown it down to the earth with His hand.
The splendid crown of the habitually drunk of Ephraim is (F)trampled underfoot.
And the fading flower of its glorious beauty,
Which is at the head of the [c]fertile valley,
Will be like the (G)first-ripe fig prior to the summer,
Which [d]one sees,
And [e]as soon as it is in his [f]hand,
He swallows it.
On that day the (H)Lord of armies will become a beautiful (I)crown
And a glorious wreath to the remnant of His people;
A (J)spirit of justice for him who sits in judgment,
A (K)strength to those who repel the [g]onslaught at the gate.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 28:1 Lit valley of fatness
  2. Isaiah 28:1 Lit stricken
  3. Isaiah 28:4 Lit valley of fatness
  4. Isaiah 28:4 Lit the one seeing sees
  5. Isaiah 28:4 Lit while it is yet
  6. Isaiah 28:4 Lit palm
  7. Isaiah 28:6 Lit battle

Judgment on Ephraim and Jerusalem

28 Ah, the proud crown of (A)the drunkards of Ephraim,
    and the fading flower of its glorious beauty,
    which is on the head of the rich valley of those overcome with wine!
Behold, the Lord has (B)one who is mighty and strong;
    like a storm of hail, a destroying tempest,
like (C)a storm of mighty, overflowing waters,
    he casts down to the earth with his hand.
(D)The proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim
    will be trodden underfoot;
(E)and the fading flower of its glorious beauty,
    which is on the head of the rich valley,
will be like (F)a first-ripe fig[a] before the summer:
    when someone sees it, he swallows it
    as soon as it is in his hand.

(G)In that day the Lord of hosts will be a crown of glory,[b]
    and a diadem of beauty, to the remnant of his people,
and (H)a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment,
    and (I)strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 28:4 Or fruit
  2. Isaiah 28:5 The Hebrew words for glory and hosts sound alike