Isaiæ 28
1 Vae coronae superbiae, ebriis Ephraim, et flori decidenti, gloriae exultationis eius, qui erant in vertice vallis pinguissimae, errantes a vino.
Woe to the crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim, and to the fading flower of his glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley of those who are overcome with wine!
2 Ecce validus et fortis Dominus sicut impetus grandinis: turbo confringens, sicut impetus aquarum multarum inundantium, et emissarum super terram spatiosam.
Behold, the Lord has a mighty and strong one. As a tempest of hail, a destroying storm, as a tempest of mighty waters overflowing, he will cast down to the earth with the hand.
3 Pedibus conculcabitur corona superbiae ebriorum Ephraim.
The crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim shall be trodden under foot.
4 Et erit flos decidens gloriae exultationis eius, 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 beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be as the first-ripe fig before the summer, which, when he who looks upon it sees, while it is yet in his hand, he eats it up.
5 In die illa erit Dominus exercituum corona gloriae, et sertum exultationis residuo populi sui:
In that day Jehovah of hosts will become a crown of glory, and a diadem of beauty, to the residue of his people,
6 et spiritus iudicii sedenti super iudicium, et fortitudo revertentibus de bello ad portam.
and a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.
7 Verum hi quoque prae vino nescierunt, et prae ebrietate erraverunt: sacerdos et propheta nescierunt prae ebrietate, absorpti sunt a vino, erraverunt in ebrietate, nescierunt videntem, ignoraverunt iudicium.
And even these reel with wine, and stagger with strong drink. The priest and the prophet reel with strong drink. They are swallowed up of wine. They stagger with strong drink; they err in vision; they stumble in judgment.
8 Omnes enim mensae repletae sunt vomitu sordium, ita ut non esset ultra locus.
For all tables are full of vomit, filthiness, no place clean.
9 Quem docebit scientiam? et quem intelligere faciet auditum? ablactatos a lacte, avulsos ab uberibus.
Whom will he teach knowledge? And whom will he make to understand the message? Those who are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts?
10 Quia manda remanda, manda remanda, expecta reexpecta, expecta reexpecta, modicum ibi, modicum ibi.
For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.
11 In loquela enim labii, et lingua altera loquetur ad populum istum.
No, but by men of strange lips and with another tongue he will speak to this people,
12 Cui dixit: Haec est requies mea, reficite lassum, et hoc est meum refrigerium: et noluerunt audire.
to whom he said, This is the rest. Give ye rest to him who is weary. And this is the refreshing. Yet they would not hear.
13 Et erit eis verbum Domini: Manda remanda, manda remanda, expecta reexpecta, expecta reexpecta, modicum ibi, modicum ibi: ut vadant, et cadant retrorsum, et conterantur, et illaqueentur, et capiantur.
Therefore the word of Jehovah shall be to them precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little, that they may go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
14 Propter hoc audite verbum Domini viri illusores, qui dominamini super populum meum, qui est in Ierusalem.
Therefore hear the word of Jehovah, ye scoffers, who rule this people that is in Jerusalem.
15 Dixistis enim: Percussimus foedus 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 made a covenant with death, and we are at agreement with Sheol. When the overflowing scourge shall pass through it shall not come to us, for we have made lies our refuge, and we have hid ourselves under falsehood. (Sheol h7585)
16 Idcirco haec dicit Dominus Deus: Ecce ego mittam in fundamentis Sion lapidem, lapidem probatum, angularem, pretiosum, in fundamento fundatum, qui crediderit, non festinet.
Therefore thus says the lord Jehovah, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner-stone, a sure foundation. He who believes in him shall, no, not be shamed.
17 Et ponam in pondere iudicium, et iustitiam in mensura: et subvertet grando spem mendacii: et protectionem aquae inundabunt.
And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plummet. And the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding-place.
18 Et delebitur foedus 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 Sheol shall not stand. When the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall 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 passes though, it shall take you. For morning by morning it shall pass through, by day and by night. And it shall be nothing but terror to understand the report.
20 Coangustatum est enim stratum, ita ut alter decidat: et pallium breve utrumque operire non potest.
For the bed is shorter than what a man can stretch himself on it, and the covering narrower than what he can wrap himself in it.
21 Sicut enim in monte divisionum stabit Dominus: sicut in valle, quae est in Gabaon, irascetur: ut faciat opus suum, alienum opus eius: ut operetur opus suum, peregrinum est opus eius ab eo.
For Jehovah will rise up as in mount Perazim. He will be angry as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work, and bring to pass his act, his strange act.
22 Et nunc nolite illudere, ne forte constringantur vincula vestra. consummationem enim et abbreviationem audivi a Domino Deo exercituum super universam terram.
Now therefore be ye not scoffers, lest your bonds be made strong. For I have heard a decree of destruction from the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, upon the whole earth.
23 Auribus percipite, et audite vocem meam, attendite, et audite eloquium meum.
Give ye ear, and hear my voice, hearken, and hear my speech.
24 Numquid tota die arabit arans ut serat, proscindet et sarriet humum suam?
Does he who plows to sow plow continually? Does he continually open and harrow his ground?
25 Nonne cum adaequaverit faciem eius, seret gith, et cyminum sparget, et ponet triticum per ordinem, et hordeum, et milium, et viciam in finibus suis?
When he has leveled the face of it, does he not cast abroad the chick-peas, and scatter the cummin, and put in the wheat in rows, and the barley in the appointed place, and the spelt in the border of it?
26 Et erudiet illum in iudicio: Deus suus docebit illum.
For his God instructs him aright, and teaches him.
27 Non enim in serris triturabitur gith, nec rota plaustri super cyminum circuibit: sed in virga excutietur gith et cyminum in baculo.
For the chick-peas are not threshed with a sharp instrument, nor is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin, but the chick-peas are beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod.
28 Panis autem comminuetur: verum non in perpetuum triturans triturabit illum, neque vexabit eum rota plaustri, neque ungulis suis comminuet eum.
Bread grain is ground, for he will not be always threshing it. And though the wheel of his cart and his horses scatter it, he does not grind it.
29 Et hoc a Domino Deo exercituum exivit, ut mirabile faceret consilium, et magnificaret iustitiam.
This also comes forth from Jehovah of hosts, who is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in wisdom.
