Isaiah 28:15-17
King James Version
15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:
16 Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.
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Isaiah 28:15-17
English Standard Version
15 Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death,
and with Sheol we have an agreement,
when the (A)overwhelming whip passes through
it will not come to us,
for we have made (B)lies our refuge,
and in falsehood we have taken shelter”;
16 therefore thus says the Lord God,
(C)“Behold, I am the one who has laid[a] as a foundation (D)in Zion,
a stone, a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation:
‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’
17 And I will make justice (E)the line,
and righteousness (F)the plumb line;
and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies,
and waters will overwhelm the shelter.”
Footnotes
- Isaiah 28:16 Dead Sea Scroll I am laying
Isaiah 28:15-17
New King James Version
15 Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death,
And with Sheol we are in agreement.
When the overflowing scourge passes through,
It will not come to us,
(A)For we have made lies our refuge,
And under falsehood we have hidden ourselves.”
A Cornerstone in Zion
16 Therefore thus says the Lord God:
“Behold, I lay in Zion (B)a stone for a foundation,
A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation;
Whoever believes will not act hastily.
17 Also I will make justice the measuring line,
And righteousness the plummet;
The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies,
And the waters will overflow the hiding place.
Isaiah 28:15-17
New American Standard Bible
15 Because you have said, “We have made a (A)covenant with death,
And with [a]Sheol we have made a [b]pact.
(B)The [c]gushing flood will not reach us when it passes by,
Because we have made (C)falsehood our refuge and we have (D)concealed ourselves with deception.”
16 Therefore this is what the Lord [d]God says:
“(E)Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion, a tested (F)stone,
A precious cornerstone for the foundation, [e]firmly placed.
The one who believes in it will not be [f]disturbed.
17 I will make (G)justice the measuring line
And righteousness the level;
Then (H)hail will sweep away the refuge of lies,
And the waters will overflow the secret place.
Footnotes
- Isaiah 28:15 I.e., the netherworld
- Isaiah 28:15 As in some ancient versions; MT seer
- Isaiah 28:15 Or overwhelming scourge
- Isaiah 28:16 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
- Isaiah 28:16 Lit well-laid
- Isaiah 28:16 Lit in a hurry
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.


