4. The fading blooms of his glorious beautyat the head of the fertile valleyWill be like an early fig before summer:whoever sees it,swallows it as soon as it is in hand.
5. On that day the Lord of hostswill be a glorious crownAnd a brilliant diademfor the remnant of his people,
6. A spirit of judgmentfor the one who sits in judgment,And strength for thosewho turn back the battle at the gate.
7. But these also stagger from wineand stumble from strong drink:Priest and prophet stagger from strong drink,overpowered by wine;They are confused by strong drink,they stagger in their visions,they totter when giving judgment.
8. Yes, all the tablesare covered with vomit,with filth, and no place left clean.
9. “To whom would he impart knowledge?To whom would he convey the message?To those just weaned from milk,those weaned from the breast?
10. For he says,‘Command on command, command on command,rule on rule, rule on rule,here a little, there a little!’”
11. Yes, with stammering lips and in a strange languagehe will speak to this people,
12. to whom he said:“This is the resting place,give rest to the weary;And this is the place of repose”—but they refused to hear.
13. So for them the word of the Lord shall be:“Command on command, command on command,Rule on rule, rule on rule,here a little, there a little!”So that when they walk, they shall stumble backward,broken, ensnared, and captured.
14. Therefore, hear the word of the Lord, you scoffers,who rule this people in Jerusalem:
15. You have declared, “We have made a covenant with death,with Sheol we have made a pact;When the raging flood passes through,it will not reach us;For we have made lies our refuge,and in falsehood we have found a hiding place,”—
16. Therefore, thus says the Lord God:See, I am laying a stone in Zion,a stone that has been tested,A precious cornerstone as a sure foundation;whoever puts faith in it will not waver.