יְשַׁעְיָהוּ 28

1 הֹ֗וי עֲטֶ֤רֶת גֵּאוּת֙ שִׁכֹּרֵ֣י אֶפְרַ֔יִם וְצִ֥יץ נֹבֵ֖ל צְבִ֣י תִפְאַרְתֹּ֑ו אֲשֶׁ֛ר עַל־רֹ֥אשׁ גֵּֽיא־שְׁמָנִ֖ים הֲל֥וּמֵי יָֽיִן׃

Tragedy is coming to the city of Samaria, the crowning glory of Ephraim's drunks, to the fading flower of wonderful beauty, sitting above a fertile valley, and beloved by those hammered by wine.

2 הִנֵּ֨ה חָזָ֤ק וְאַמִּץ֙ לַֽאדֹנָ֔י כְּזֶ֥רֶם בָּרָ֖ד שַׂ֣עַר קָ֑טֶב כְּ֠זֶרֶם מַ֣יִם כַּבִּירִ֥ים שֹׁטְפִ֛ים הִנִּ֥יחַ לָאָ֖רֶץ בְּיָֽד׃

Watch out, for the Lord has someone who is strong and powerful! He is going to smash it to the ground like a hailstorm and a tornado, like a torrential rain and an overwhelming flood.

3 בְּרַגְלַ֖יִם תֵּֽרָמַ֑סְנָה עֲטֶ֥רֶת גֵּא֖וּת שִׁכֹּורֵ֥י אֶפְרָֽיִם׃

That crowning glory of Ephraim's drunks will be trampled underfoot.

4 וְֽהָ֨יְתָ֜ה צִיצַ֤ת נֹבֵל֙ צְבִ֣י תִפְאַרְתֹּ֔ו אֲשֶׁ֥ר עַל־רֹ֖אשׁ גֵּ֣יא שְׁמָנִ֑ים כְּבִכּוּרָהּ֙ בְּטֶ֣רֶם קַ֔יִץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִרְאֶ֤ה הָֽרֹאֶה֙ אֹותָ֔הּ בְּעֹודָ֥הּ בְּכַפֹּ֖ו יִבְלָעֶֽנָּה׃ ס

That fading flower of wonderful beauty, sitting above a fertile valley, will be like figs ripe before the summer harvest—as soon as people discover them, they grab and eat them.

5 בַּיֹּ֣ום הַה֗וּא יִֽהְיֶה֙ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָאֹ֔ות לַעֲטֶ֣רֶת צְבִ֔י וְלִצְפִירַ֖ת תִּפְאָרָ֑ה לִשְׁאָ֖ר עַמֹּֽו׃

At that time the Lord Almighty will be a beautiful, glorious crown that brings pride to those of his people who are left.

6 וּלְר֖וּחַ מִשְׁפָּ֑ט לַיֹּושֵׁב֙ עַל־הַמִּשְׁפָּ֔ט וְלִ֨גְבוּרָ֔ה מְשִׁיבֵ֥י מִלְחָמָ֖ה שָֽׁעְרָה׃ ס

He will be an inspiration to the judges to do what's right, and he will encourage those who fight off the attacks on the gate.

7 וְגַם־אֵ֙לֶּה֙ בַּיַּ֣יִן שָׁג֔וּ וּבַשֵּׁכָ֖ר תָּע֑וּ כֹּהֵ֣ן וְנָבִיא֩ שָׁג֨וּ בַשֵּׁכָ֜ר נִבְלְע֣וּ מִן־הַיַּ֗יִן תָּעוּ֙ מִן־הַשֵּׁכָ֔ר שָׁגוּ֙ בָּֽרֹאֶ֔ה פָּק֖וּ פְּלִילִיָּֽה׃

But these people also drink so much wine and beer that they sway from side to side and stumble over. Even priests and prophets stagger along, their minds muddled by beer and wine. Because of the drink they are confused about visions and make mistakes when they give decisions.

8 כִּ֚י כָּל־שֻׁלְחָנֹ֔ות מָלְא֖וּ קִ֣יא צֹאָ֑ה בְּלִ֖י מָקֹֽום׃ ס

All their tables are full of vomit—filth is everywhere.

9 אֶת־מִי֙ יֹורֶ֣ה דֵעָ֔ה וְאֶת־מִ֖י יָבִ֣ין שְׁמוּעָ֑ה גְּמוּלֵי֙ מֵֽחָלָ֔ב עַתִּיקֵ֖י מִשָּׁדָֽיִם׃

“Just who is he trying to teach knowledge to?” they ask. “Who is he explaining his message to? To children just weaned from milk, to babies just removed from the breast?

10 כִּ֣י צַ֤ו לָצָו֙ צַ֣ו לָצָ֔ו קַ֥ו לָקָ֖ו קַ֣ו לָקָ֑ו זְעֵ֥יר שָׁ֖ם זְעֵ֥יר שָֽׁם׃

He tells us this blah and that blah, blah upon blah, and again blah and blah, and even more blah and blah! It's a bit here and a bit there.”

11 כִּ֚י בְּלַעֲגֵ֣י שָׂפָ֔ה וּבְלָשֹׁ֖ון אַחֶ֑רֶת יְדַבֵּ֖ר אֶל־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּֽה׃

Fine—so now the Lord will talk to this people in foreign languages that sound strange to them!

12 אֲשֶׁ֣ר ׀ אָמַ֣ר אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם זֹ֤את הַמְּנוּחָה֙ הָנִ֣יחוּ לֶֽעָיֵ֔ף וְזֹ֖את הַמַּרְגֵּעָ֑ה וְלֹ֥א אָב֖וּא שְׁמֹֽועַ׃

He had told them, “You can rest here. Let those who are tired rest. This is the place where you can safely relax.” But they refused to listen.

13 וְהָיָ֨ה לָהֶ֜ם דְּבַר־יְהוָ֗ה צַ֣ו לָצָ֞ו צַ֤ו לָצָו֙ קַ֤ו לָקָו֙ קַ֣ו לָקָ֔ו זְעֵ֥יר שָׁ֖ם זְעֵ֣יר שָׁ֑ם לְמַ֨עַן יֵלְכ֜וּ וְכָשְׁל֤וּ אָחֹור֙ וְנִשְׁבָּ֔רוּ וְנֹוקְשׁ֖וּ וְנִלְכָּֽדוּ׃ פ

Therefore the Lord's message to them will become, “This blah and that blah, blah upon blah, and again blah and blah, and even more blah and blah, a bit here and a bit there,” so that they'll fall over backwards, and they'll be wounded, trapped, and captured.

14 לָכֵ֛ן שִׁמְע֥וּ דְבַר־יְהוָ֖ה אַנְשֵׁ֣י לָצֹ֑ון מֹֽשְׁלֵי֙ הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃

So pay attention to the Lord's message, you scornful rulers who lead these people in Jerusalem.

15 כִּ֣י אֲמַרְתֶּ֗ם כָּרַ֤תְנֽוּ בְרִית֙ אֶת־מָ֔וֶת וְעִם־שְׁאֹ֖ול עָשִׂ֣ינוּ חֹזֶ֑ה שִׁיט (שֹׁ֣וט) שֹׁוטֵ֤ף כִּֽי־עָבַר (יֽ͏ַעֲבֹר֙) לֹ֣א יְבֹואֵ֔נוּ כִּ֣י שַׂ֧מְנוּ כָזָ֛ב מַחְסֵ֖נוּ וּבַשֶּׁ֥קֶר נִסְתָּֽרְנוּ׃ ס (Sheol h7585)

You claim, “We've made an agreement with death; we've got a contract with the grave. When the terrible disaster rushes by, it won't affect us, because our lies protect us and we hide in our own deceptions.” (Sheol h7585)

16 לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֔ה הִנְנִ֛י יִסַּ֥ד בְּצִיֹּ֖ון אָ֑בֶן אֶ֣בֶן בֹּ֜חַן פִּנַּ֤ת יִקְרַת֙ מוּסָ֣ד מוּסָּ֔ד הַֽמַּאֲמִ֖ין לֹ֥א יָחִֽישׁ׃

Consequently, listen to what the Lord God says, Look! I'm laying a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a strong, well-tested stone. It's a valuable cornerstone that provides a firm foundation. Anyone who trusts in it won't be shaken loose.

17 וְשַׂמְתִּ֤י מִשְׁפָּט֙ לְקָ֔ו וּצְדָקָ֖ה לְמִשְׁקָ֑לֶת וְיָעָ֤ה בָרָד֙ מַחְסֵ֣ה כָזָ֔ב וְסֵ֥תֶר מַ֖יִם יִשְׁטֹֽפוּ׃

I will make justice as straight as a measuring line, and doing what's right the standard rule. Hail will destroy the protection of your lies, and water will flood the place where you're hiding.

18 וְכֻפַּ֤ר בְּרִֽיתְכֶם֙ אֶת־מָ֔וֶת וְחָזוּתְכֶ֥ם אֶת־שְׁאֹ֖ול לֹ֣א תָק֑וּם שֹׁ֤וט שֹׁוטֵף֙ כִּ֣י יַֽעֲבֹ֔ר וִהְיִ֥יתֶם לֹ֖ו לְמִרְמָֽס׃ (Sheol h7585)

Your agreement with death will be canceled; your contract with the grave will be revoked. When the terrible disaster rushes by, it will trample you underfoot. (Sheol h7585)

19 מִדֵּ֤י עָבְרֹו֙ יִקַּ֣ח אֶתְכֶ֔ם כִּֽי־בַבֹּ֧קֶר בַּבֹּ֛קֶר יַעֲבֹ֖ר בַּיֹּ֣ום וּבַלָּ֑יְלָה וְהָיָ֥ה רַק־זְוָעָ֖ה הָבִ֥ין שְׁמוּעָֽה׃

It will rush by time after time, dragging you away morning upon morning, day and night, rushing on and on. Once you understand this message you will be absolutely terrified.

20 כִּֽי־קָצַ֥ר הַמַּצָּ֖ע מֵֽהִשְׂתָּרֵ֑עַ וְהַמַּסֵּכָ֥ה צָ֖רָה כְּהִתְכַּנֵּֽס׃

The bed is too short so you can't stretch out; the blanket is too narrow so you can't cover yourself.

21 כִּ֤י כְהַר־פְּרָצִים֙ יָק֣וּם יְהוָ֔ה כְּעֵ֖מֶק בְּגִבְעֹ֣ון יִרְגָּ֑ז לַעֲשֹׂ֤ות מַעֲשֵׂ֙הוּ֙ זָ֣ר מַעֲשֵׂ֔הוּ וְלַֽעֲבֹד֙ עֲבֹ֣דָתֹ֔ו נָכְרִיָּ֖ה עֲבֹדָתֹֽו׃

The Lord will come on the attack like he did to the Philistines at Mount Perazim, like he shook them in the Valley of Gibeon, coming to do what he has to do, his strange work; coming to act as he must, his unusual action.

22 וְעַתָּה֙ אַל־תִּתְלֹוצָ֔צוּ פֶּֽן־יֶחְזְק֖וּ מֹֽוסְרֵיכֶ֑ם כִּֽי־כָלָ֨ה וְנֶחֱרָצָ֜ה שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי מֵאֵ֨ת אֲדֹנָ֧י יְהוִ֛ה צְבָאֹ֖ות עַל־כָּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃

So don't mock, or your imprisonment will be even worse, for the Lord, the Lord Almighty, has explained to me his decision to destroy the whole country.

23 הַאֲזִ֥ינוּ וְשִׁמְע֖וּ קֹולִ֑י הַקְשִׁ֥יבוּ וְשִׁמְע֖וּ אִמְרָתִֽי׃

Listen to what I'm saying! Listen and pay attention! Hear what I have to say!

24 הֲכֹ֣ל הַיֹּ֔ום יַחֲרֹ֥שׁ הַחֹרֵ֖שׁ לִזְרֹ֑עַ יְפַתַּ֥ח וִֽישַׂדֵּ֖ד אַדְמָתֹֽו׃

Does the farmer spend all his time ploughing? Does he spend all his time preparing the soil?

25 הֲלֹוא֙ אִם־שִׁוָּ֣ה פָנֶ֔יהָ וְהֵפִ֥יץ קֶ֖צַח וְכַמֹּ֣ן יִזְרֹ֑ק וְשָׂ֨ם חִטָּ֤ה שֹׂורָה֙ וּשְׂעֹרָ֣ה נִסְמָ֔ן וְכֻסֶּ֖מֶת גְּבֻלָתֹֽו׃

Once he has everything ready doesn't he sow seeds like dill and cumin, doesn't he plant wheat and barley in rows, with spelt grain as a border?

26 וְיִסְּרֹ֥ו לַמִּשְׁפָּ֖ט אֱלֹהָ֥יו יֹורֶֽנּוּ׃

His God gives him instructions and teaches him the right thing to do.

27 כִּ֣י לֹ֤א בֶֽחָרוּץ֙ י֣וּדַשׁ קֶ֔צַח וְאֹופַ֣ן עֲגָלָ֔ה עַל־כַּמֹּ֖ן יוּסָּ֑ב כִּ֧י בַמַּטֶּ֛ה יֵחָ֥בֶט קֶ֖צַח וְכַמֹּ֥ן בַּשָּֽׁבֶט׃

You don't use a heavy tool to thresh dill! You don't use the wheel of a cart to thresh cumin! Instead you use a stick to beat out the dill, and a rod to beat out the cumin.

28 לֶ֣חֶם יוּדָ֔ק כִּ֛י לֹ֥א לָנֶ֖צַח אָדֹ֣ושׁ יְדוּשֶׁ֑נּוּ וְ֠הָמַם גִּלְגַּ֧ל עֶגְלָתֹ֛ו וּפָרָשָׁ֖יו לֹֽא־יְדֻקֶּֽנּוּ׃

Grain used for bread is easily damaged so you don't thresh it forever. When you drive your cart wheels over it with your horses, you don't crush it.

29 גַּם־זֹ֕את מֵעִ֛ם יְהוָ֥ה צְבָאֹ֖ות יָצָ֑אָה הִפְלִ֣יא עֵצָ֔ה הִגְדִּ֖יל תּוּשִׁיָּֽה׃ ס

This is also from the Lord Almighty who is very wise and gives great advice.