13. So the words of the Lord will be,“A command here, a command there.A rule here, a rule there.A little lesson here, a little lesson there.”They will fall back and be defeated;they will be trapped and captured.
14. So listen to the Lord’s message, you who brag,you leaders in Jerusalem.
15. You say, “We have made an agreement with death;we have a contract with death.When terrible punishment passes by,it won’t hurt us.Our lies will keep us safe,and our tricks will hide us.”
16. Because of these things, this is what the Lord God says:“I will put a stone in the ground in Jerusalem,a tested stone.Everything will be built on this important and precious rock.Anyone who trusts in it will never be disappointed.
17. I will use justice as a measuring lineand goodness as the standard.The lies you hide behind will be destroyed as if by hail.They will be washed away as if in a flood.
18. Your agreement with death will be erased;your contract with death will not help you.When terrible punishment comes,you will be crushed by it.
19. Whenever punishment comes, it will take you away.It will come morning after morning;it will defeat you by day and by night.Those who understand this punishment will be terrified.”
20. You will be like the person who tried to sleepon a bed that was too shortand with a blanket that was too narrowto wrap around himself.