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14 Therefore hear Yahweh’s word, you scoffers, that rule this people in Jerusalem: 15 “Because you have said, ‘We have made a covenant with death, and we are in agreement with Sheol.[a] When the overflowing scourge passes through, it won’t come to us; for we have made lies our refuge, and we have hidden ourselves under falsehood.’” 16 Therefore the Lord Yahweh says, “Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone of a sure foundation. He who believes shall not act hastily. 17 I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plumb line. The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters will overflow the hiding place. 18 Your covenant with death shall be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol[b] shall not stand. When the overflowing scourge passes through, then you will be trampled down by it. 19 As often as it passes through, it will seize you; for morning by morning it will pass through, by day and by night; and it will be nothing but terror to understand the message.” 20 For the bed is too short to stretch out on, and the blanket is too narrow to wrap oneself in. 21 For Yahweh will rise up as on Mount Perazim. He will be angry as in the valley of Gibeon; that he may do his work, his unusual work, and bring to pass his act, his extraordinary act. 22 Now therefore don’t be scoffers, lest your bonds be made strong; for I have heard a decree of destruction from the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, on the whole earth.

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Footnotes

  1. 28:15 Sheol is the place of the dead.
  2. 28:18 Sheol is the place of the dead.

14 Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you scoffers
    who rule this people in Jerusalem.(A)
15 Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death,
    and with Sheol we have an agreement;
when the overwhelming scourge passes through
    it will not come to us,
for we have made lies our refuge,
    and in falsehood we have taken shelter”;(B)
16 therefore thus says the Lord God,
“See, I am laying[a] in Zion a foundation stone,
    a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation:
    ‘One who trusts will not panic.’(C)
17 And I will make justice the line
    and righteousness the plummet;
hail will sweep away the refuge of lies,
    and waters will overwhelm the shelter.(D)
18 Then your covenant with death will be annulled,
    and your agreement with Sheol will not stand;
when the overwhelming scourge passes through,
    you will be beaten down by it.(E)
19 As often as it passes through, it will take you,
    for morning by morning it will pass through,
    by day and by night,
and it will be sheer terror to understand the message.”(F)
20 For the bed is too short to stretch oneself on it,
    and the covering is too narrow to wrap oneself in it.
21 For the Lord will rise up as on Mount Perazim;
    he will rage as in the valley of Gibeon
to do his deed—strange is his deed!—
    and to work his work—alien is his work!(G)
22 Now therefore do not scoff,
    or your bonds will be made stronger,
for I have heard a decree of destruction
    from the Lord God of hosts upon the whole land.(H)

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Footnotes

  1. 28.16 Q mss Compare Syr Tg: MT he laid