4. It sits at the head of a fertile valley,but its glorious beauty will fade like a flower.Whoever sees it will snatch it up,as an early fig is quickly picked and eaten.
5. Then at last the lord of Heaven’s Armieswill himself be Israel’s glorious crown.He will be the pride and joyof the remnant of his people.
6. He will give a longing for justiceto their judges.He will give great courageto their warriors who stand at the gates.
7. Now, however, Israel is led by drunkswho reel with wine and stagger with alcohol.The priests and prophets stagger with alcoholand lose themselves in wine.They reel when they see visionsand stagger as they render decisions.
8. Their tables are covered with vomit;filth is everywhere.
9. “Who does the lord think we are?” they ask.“Why does he speak to us like this?Are we little children,just recently weaned?
10. He tells us everything over and over—one line at a time,one line at a time,a little here,and a little there!”
11. So now God will have to speak to his peoplethrough foreign oppressors who speak a strange language!
12. God has told his people,“Here is a place of rest;let the weary rest here.This is a place of quiet rest.”But they would not listen.