5-6. At that time, God-of-the-Angel-Armies will bethe beautiful crown on the head of what’s left of his people:Energy and insights of justice to those who guide and decide,strength and prowess to those who guard and protect.
7-8. These also, the priest and prophet, stagger from drink,weaving, falling-down drunks,Besotted with wine and whiskey,can’t see straight, can’t talk sense.Every table is covered with vomit.They live in vomit.
9-10. “Is that so? And who do you think you are to teach us?Who are you to lord it over us?We’re not babies in diapersto be talked down to by such as you—‘Da, da, da, da,blah, blah, blah, blah.That’s a good little girl,that’s a good little boy.’”
11-12. But that’s exactly how you will be addressed.God will speak to this peopleIn baby talk, one syllable at a time—and he’ll do it through foreign oppressors.He said before, “This is the time and place to rest,to give rest to the weary.This is the place to lay down your burden.”But they won’t listen.
13. So God will start over with the simple basicsand address them in baby talk, one syllable at a time—“Da, da, da, da,blah, blah, blah, blah.That’s a good little girl,that’s a good little boy.”And like toddlers, they will get up and fall down,get bruised and confused and lost.
14-15. Now listen to God’s Message, you scoffers,you who rule this people in Jerusalem.You say, “We’ve taken out good life insurance.We’ve hedged all our bets, covered all our bases.No disaster can touch us. We’ve thought of everything.We’re advised by the experts. We’re set.”
16-17. But the Master, God, has something to say to this:“Watch closely. I’m laying a foundation in Zion,a solid granite foundation, squared and true.And this is the meaning of the stone:a trusting life won’t topple.I’ll make justice the measuring stickand righteousness the plumb line for the building.A hailstorm will knock down the shantytown of lies,and a flash flood will wash out the rubble.