Isaiæ 28
1 [Væ coronæ superbiæ, ebriis Ephraim, et flori decidenti, gloriæ exsultationis ejus, qui erant in vertice vallis pinguissimæ, errantes a vino.
Woe to the crown of pride, of the drunkards of Ephraim, and to the fading flower of his glorious ornament, which is on the eminence of the fat valley of those who are struck down by wine!
2 Ecce validus et fortis Dominus sicut impetus grandinis; turbo confringens, sicut impetus aquarum multarum inundantium et emissarum super terram spatiosam.
Behold, [it cometh] mighty and strong from the Lord, as a tempest of hail, a storm of destruction; as a tempest of mighty overflowing waters, will he cast it down to the earth with force.
3 Pedibus conculcabitur corona superbiæ ebriorum Ephraim.
Under feet shall be trodden the crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim:
4 Et erit flos decidens gloriæ exsultationis ejus, qui est super verticem vallis pinguium, quasi temporaneum ante maturitatem autumni, quod, cum aspexerit videns, statim ut manu tenuerit, devorabit illud.
And the fading flower of his glorious ornament, which is on the eminence of the fat valley, shall be as its early ripe fruit before the summer; which one, when he just seeth it, while it is scarcely in his hand, hastily devoureth.
5 In die illa erit Dominus exercituum corona gloriæ, et sertum exsultationis residuo populi sui;
On that day will the Lord of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people,
6 et spiritus judicii sedenti super judicium, et fortitudo revertentibus de bello ad portam.]
And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to those that drive back the battle to the gate [of the enemy].
7 [Verum hi quoque præ vino nescierunt, et præ ebrietate erraverunt; sacerdos et propheta nescierunt præ ebrietate; absorpti sunt a vino, erraverunt in ebrietate, nescierunt videntem, ignoraverunt judicium.
But these also are now stumbling through wine, and reeling through strong drink: priest and prophet are stumbling through strong drink, they are overpowered with wine, they reel through strong drink; they stumble in [divine] vision, they are unsteady in giving judgment.
8 Omnes enim mensæ repletæ sunt vomitu sordiumque, ita ut non esset ultra locus.
For all tables are full of vomit of filthiness, there is no place [clean].
9 Quem docebit scientiam? et quem intelligere faciet auditum? Ablactatos a lacte, avulsos ab uberibus.
Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he give to understand doctrine? those that are weaned from the milk, those that are taken from the breasts.
10 Quia manda, remanda; manda, remanda; exspecta, reexspecta; exspecta, reexspecta; modicum ibi, modicum ibi.
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.
11 In loquela enim labii, et lingua altera loquetur ad populum istum.
For [as] with stammering lips and a foreign tongue will he speak to this people;
12 Cui dixit: Hæc est requies mea, reficite lassum; et hoc est meum refrigerium: et noluerunt audire.
When he said unto them, This is the rest, cause ye the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing; but they would not hear.
13 Et erit eis verbum Domini: Manda, remanda; manda, remanda; exspecta, reexspecta; exspecta, reexspecta; modicum ibi, modicum ibi; ut vadant, et cadant retrorsum, et conterantur, et illaqueentur, et capiantur.
Therefore shall be unto them the word of the Lord, precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; in order that they may go, and stumble backward, and be broken, and snared, and caught.
14 Propter hoc audite verbum Domini, viri illusores, qui dominamini super populum meum, qui est in Jerusalem.
Therefore hear the word of the Lord, ye scornful men, who rule this people that is in Jerusalem.
15 Dixistis enim: Percussimus fœdus cum morte, et cum inferno fecimus pactum: flagellum inundans cum transierit, non veniet super nos quia posuimus mendacium spem nostram, et mendacio protecti sumus. (Sheol h7585)
Because ye have said, “We have entered into a covenant with death, and with the nether world have we made an agreement; the overflowing scourge, when it passeth by, shall not come at us; for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we sought a hiding-place.” (Sheol h7585)
16 Idcirco hæc dicit Dominus Deus: Ecce ego mittam in fundamentis Sion lapidem, lapidem probatum, angularem, pretiosum, in fundamento fundatum; qui crediderit, non festinet.
Therefore thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Behold, I have laid in Zion as a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a costly corner-stone, well founded: he that believeth will not make haste.
17 Et ponam in pondere judicium, et justitiam in mensura; et subvertet grando spem mendacii, et protectionem aquæ inundabunt.
And I will make of justice a measuring line, and of righteousness a plummet: and the hail shall sweep off the refuge of lies, and the hiding-place against the waters shall these flood away.
18 Et delebitur fœdus vestrum cum morte, et pactum vestrum cum inferno non stabit: flagellum inundans cum transierit, eritis ei in conculcationem. (Sheol h7585)
And your covenant with death shall be annulled, and your agreement with the nether world shall not have permanence; the overflowing scourge, when it passeth by—then shall ye be trodden down by it. (Sheol h7585)
19 Quandocumque pertransierit, tollet vos, quoniam in mane diluculo pertransibit in die et in nocte; et tantummodo sola vexatio intellectum dabit auditui.
As often as it passeth by shall it take you; for morning by morning shall it pass by, by day and by night; and the mere understanding of the report shall cause terror.
20 Coangustatum est enim stratum, ita ut alter decidat; et pallium breve utrumque operire non potest.
For the bed shall be too short for [a man] to stretch himself out [on it]: and the covering too narrow to wrap himself in.
21 Sicut enim in monte divisionum stabit Dominus; sicut in valle quæ est in Gabaon irascetur, ut faciat opus suum, alienum opus ejus: ut operetur opus suum, peregrinum est opus ejus ab eo.
For as on mount Perazim will the Lord rise up, as in the valley of Gib'on will he be wroth, that he may do his work, his singular work; and to accomplish his labor, his strange labor.
22 Et nunc nolite illudere, ne forte constringantur vincula vestra; consummationem enim et abbreviationem audivi a Domino Deo exercituum, super universam terram.]
And now be ye no longer scornful, lest your bonds be made strong; for as completed and fully decreed have I heard it from the Lord Eternal of hosts over all the earth.
23 [Auribus percipite, et audite vocem meam: attendite, et audite eloquium meum.
Give ye ear, and hear my voice; listen, and hear my speech.
24 Numquid tota die arabit arans ut serat? proscindet et sarriet humum suam?
Doth the ploughman plough all the time to sow? doth he open and harrow his ground [continually]?
25 Nonne cum adæquaverit faciem ejus, seret gith et cyminum sparget? et ponet triticum per ordinem, et hordeum, et milium, et viciam in finibus suis?
Is it not so? that, when he hath made level its surface he scattereth fennel, and streweth about cumin, and planteth the wheat in rows, and barley on its assigned [place], and millet on its proper spot?
26 Et erudiet illum in judicio; Deus suus docebit illum.
For his God instructed him rightly, taught him [so to do].
27 Non enim in serris triturabitur gith, nec rota plaustri super cyminum circuibit; sed in virga excutietur gith, et cyminum in baculo.
Truly not with a threshing instrument is fennel threshed, and a wagon-wheel is not turned about upon cumin; but fennel is beaten out with a staff, and cumin with a stick.
28 Panis autem comminuetur; verum non in perpetuum triturans triturabit illum, neque vexabit eum rota plaustri, neque ungulis suis comminuet eum.
Bread-corn is crushed; but not for ever doth [man] keep threshing it; and though he drive over it the wheel of his wagon and his horses, he will not [thereby] crush it.
29 Et hoc a Domino Deo exercituum exivit, ut mirabile faceret consilium, et magnificaret justitiam.]
This also cometh forth from the Lord of hosts; wonderful is he in counsel, and excellent in [his] wise deeds.
