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A Cornerstone in Zion

14 Therefore, (A)hear the word of Yahweh, O (B)scoffers,
Who rule this people who are in Jerusalem,
15 Because you have said, “We have cut a (C)covenant with death,
And with Sheol we have made a [a]pact.
(D)The overflowing [b]scourge will not reach us when it passes by,
For we have made (E)falsehood our refuge and we have (F)hidden ourselves with lying.”

16 Therefore thus says Lord Yahweh,

(G)Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested (H)stone,
A costly cornerstone for the foundation, [c]firmly placed.
He who believes in it will not be [d]disturbed.
17 I will make (I)justice the measuring line
And righteousness the level;
Then (J)hail will sweep away the refuge of falsehood,
And the waters will overflow the secret place.
18 Your (K)covenant with death will be [e](L)canceled,
And your pact with Sheol will not stand;
When the (M)overflowing scourge passes through,
Then you will become its (N)trampling place.
19 As (O)often as it passes through, it will take you;
For (P)morning after morning it will pass through, anytime during the day or night,
And it will be [f]sheer (Q)terror to understand the report.”
20 The bed is too short on which to stretch out,
And the (R)blanket is too narrow to wrap oneself in.
21 For Yahweh will rise up as at Mount (S)Perazim;
He will be stirred up as in the valley of (T)Gibeon,
To work His (U)work, His [g](V)unusual work,
And to labor in His labor, His [h]exceptional labor.
22 So now do not carry on as (W)scoffers,
Lest your fetters be made stronger;
For I have heard from Lord Yahweh of hosts
Of complete (X)destruction, one that is decreed, on all the earth.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 28:15 As in some ancient versions; Heb seer
  2. Isaiah 28:15 Or flood
  3. Isaiah 28:16 Lit well-laid
  4. Isaiah 28:16 Lit in a hurry
  5. Isaiah 28:18 Lit covered over
  6. Isaiah 28:19 Lit only
  7. Isaiah 28:21 Lit task is strange
  8. Isaiah 28:21 Lit work is foreign

Judah Is Warned

14 Therefore, (A)hear the word of the Lord, O (B)scoffers,
Who rule this people who are in Jerusalem,
15 Because you have said, “We have made a (C)covenant with death,
And with [a]Sheol we have made a [b]pact.
(D)The overwhelming [c]scourge will not reach us when it passes by,
For we have made (E)falsehood our refuge and we have (F)concealed ourselves with deception.”

16 Therefore thus says the Lord [d]God,

(G)Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested (H)stone,
A costly cornerstone for the foundation, [e]firmly placed.
He who believes in it will not be [f]disturbed.
17 “I will make (I)justice the measuring line
And righteousness the level;
Then (J)hail will sweep away the refuge of lies
And the waters will overflow the secret place.
18 “Your (K)covenant with death will be [g](L)canceled,
And your pact with Sheol will not stand;
When the (M)overwhelming scourge passes through,
Then you become its (N)trampling place.
19 “As (O)often as it passes through, it will [h]seize you;
For (P)morning after morning it will pass through, anytime during the day or night,
And it will be [i]sheer (Q)terror to understand [j]what it means.”
20 The bed is too short on which to stretch out,
And the (R)blanket is too [k]small to wrap oneself in.
21 For the Lord will rise up as at Mount (S)Perazim,
He will be stirred up as in the valley of (T)Gibeon,
To do His (U)task, His [l](V)unusual task,
And to work His work, His [m]extraordinary work.
22 And now do not carry on as (W)scoffers,
Or your fetters will be made stronger;
For I have heard from the Lord [n]God of hosts
Of decisive (X)destruction on all the earth.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 28:15 I.e. the nether world
  2. Isaiah 28:15 So some ancient versions; Heb seer
  3. Isaiah 28:15 Or flood
  4. Isaiah 28:16 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
  5. Isaiah 28:16 Lit well-laid
  6. Isaiah 28:16 Lit in a hurry
  7. Isaiah 28:18 Lit covered over
  8. Isaiah 28:19 Lit take
  9. Isaiah 28:19 Lit only
  10. Isaiah 28:19 Lit the report, or, the message
  11. Isaiah 28:20 Lit narrow
  12. Isaiah 28:21 Lit task is strange
  13. Isaiah 28:21 Lit work is alien
  14. Isaiah 28:22 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord