1. Woe [to] the proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim. And the fading flower of the beauty of his glory, That [is] on the head of the fat valley of the broken down of wine.
2. Lo, a mighty and strong one [is] to the Lord, As a storm of hail--a destructive shower, As an inundation of mighty waters overflowing, He cast down to the earth with the hand.
3. By feet trodden down is the proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim,
4. And the fading flower of the beauty of his glory That [is] on the head of the fat valley, Hath been as its first-fruit before summer, That its beholder seeth, While it [is] yet in his hand he swalloweth it.
5. In that day is Jehovah of Hosts For a crown of beauty, and for a diadem of glory, To the remnant of His people.
6. And for a spirit of judgment To him who is sitting in the judgment, And for might [to] those turning back the battle to the gate.
7. And even these through wine have erred, And through strong drink have wandered, Priest and prophet erred through strong drink, They have been swallowed up of the wine, They wandered because of the strong drink, They have erred in seeing, Theyhave stumbled judicially.
8. For all tables have been full of vomit, Filth--without place!
9. By whom doth He teach knowledge? And by whom doth He cause to understand the report? The weaned from milk, the removed from breasts,
10. For rule [is] on rule, rule on rule, line on line, line on line, A little here, a little there,
11. For by scorned lip, and by another tongue, Doth He speak unto this people.
12. Unto whom He hath said, `This [is] the rest, give ye rest to the weary, And this--the refreshing:' And they have not been willing to hear,
13. And to whom a word of Jehovah hath been, Rule on rule, rule on rule, line on line, line on line, A little here, a little there, So that they go and have stumbled backward, And been broken, and snared, and captured.
14. Therefore, hear a word of Jehovah, ye men of scorning, Ruling this people that [is] in Jerusalem.