Isaiah 28:5

ה֗וֹי עֲטֶ֤רֶת גֵּאוּת֙ שִׁכֹּרֵ֣י אֶפְרַ֔יִם וְצִ֥יץ נֹבֵ֖ל צְבִ֣י תִפְאַרְתּ֑וֹ אֲשֶׁ֛ר עַל־רֹ֥אשׁ גֵּֽיא־שְׁמָנִ֖ים הֲל֥וּמֵי יָֽיִן׃ Ah, the proud crowns of the drunkards of Ephraim,
Whose glorious beauty is but wilted flowers
On the heads of those bloated^abloated Ge is contracted from geʼe; cf. Ibn Ezra. with rich food,
Who are overcome by wine!

הִנֵּ֨ה חָזָ֤ק וְאַמִּץ֙ לַֽאדֹנָ֔י כְּזֶ֥רֶם בָּרָ֖ד שַׂ֣עַר קָ֑טֶב כְּ֠זֶ֠רֶם מַ֣יִם כַּבִּירִ֥ים שֹׁטְפִ֛ים הִנִּ֥יחַ לָאָ֖רֶץ בְּיָֽד׃ Lo, my Sovereign has something strong and mighty,
Like a storm of hail,
A shower of pestilence.
Something like a storm of massive, torrential rain^brain Lit. “water.”
Shall be hurled with force to the ground.

בְּרַגְלַ֖יִם תֵּרָמַ֑סְנָה עֲטֶ֥רֶת גֵּא֖וּת שִׁכּוֹרֵ֥י אֶפְרָֽיִם׃ Trampled underfoot shall be
The proud crowns of the drunkards of Ephraim,

וְֽהָ֨יְתָ֜ה צִיצַ֤ת נֹבֵל֙ צְבִ֣י תִפְאַרְתּ֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר עַל־רֹ֖אשׁ גֵּ֣יא שְׁמָנִ֑ים כְּבִכּוּרָהּ֙ בְּטֶ֣רֶם קַ֔יִץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִרְאֶ֤ה הָרֹאֶה֙ אוֹתָ֔הּ בְּעוֹדָ֥הּ בְּכַפּ֖וֹ יִבְלָעֶֽנָּה׃ {ס}         The wilted flowers—
On the heads of those bloated^cbloated See note at v. 1. with rich food—
That are his glorious beauty.
They shall be like an early fig
Before the fruit harvest;
Whoever sees it devours it
While it is still in his hand.^din his hand Emendation yields “on the bough.”

וּלְר֖וּחַ מִשְׁפָּ֑ט לַיּוֹשֵׁב֙ עַל־הַמִּשְׁפָּ֔ט וְלִ֨גְבוּרָ֔ה מְשִׁיבֵ֥י מִלְחָמָ֖ה שָֽׁעְרָה׃ {ס}         and a spirit of judgment for the one who sits in judgment and of valor for those who repel attacks at the gate.

וְגַם־אֵ֙לֶּה֙ בַּיַּ֣יִן שָׁג֔וּ וּבַשֵּׁכָ֖ר תָּע֑וּ כֹּהֵ֣ן וְנָבִיא֩ שָׁג֨וּ בַשֵּׁכָ֜ר נִבְלְע֣וּ מִן־הַיַּ֗יִן תָּעוּ֙ מִן־הַשֵּׁכָ֔ר שָׁגוּ֙ בָּרֹאֶ֔ה פָּק֖וּ פְּלִילִיָּֽה׃ But these are also muddled by wine
And dazed by liquor:
Priest and prophet
Are muddled by liquor;
They are confused by wine,
They are dazed by liquor;
They are muddled in their visions,
They stumble in judgment.

כִּ֚י כׇּל־שֻׁלְחָנ֔וֹת מָלְא֖וּ קִ֣יא צֹאָ֑ה בְּלִ֖י מָקֽוֹם׃ {פ}
Yea, all tables are covered
With vomit and filth,
So that no space is left.

אֶת־מִי֙ יוֹרֶ֣ה דֵעָ֔ה וְאֶת־מִ֖י יָבִ֣ין שְׁמוּעָ֑ה גְּמוּלֵי֙ מֵחָלָ֔ב עַתִּיקֵ֖י מִשָּׁדָֽיִם׃ ^eThis is the drunkards’ reaction to Isaiah’s reproof. “To whom would he give instruction?
To whom expound a message?
To those newly weaned from milk,
Just taken away from the breast?

כִּ֣י צַ֤ו לָצָו֙ צַ֣ו לָצָ֔ו קַ֥ו לָקָ֖ו קַ֣ו לָקָ֑ו זְעֵ֥יר שָׁ֖ם זְעֵ֥יר שָֽׁם׃ That same mutter upon mutter,
Murmur upon murmur,
Now here, now there!”

כִּ֚י בְּלַעֲגֵ֣י שָׂפָ֔ה וּבְלָשׁ֖וֹן אַחֶ֑רֶת יְדַבֵּ֖ר אֶל־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּֽה׃ Truly, as one who speaks to that people in a stammering jargon and an alien tongue

אֲשֶׁ֣ר ׀ אָמַ֣ר אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם זֹ֤את הַמְּנוּחָה֙ הָנִ֣יחוּ לֶעָיֵ֔ף וְזֹ֖את הַמַּרְגֵּעָ֑ה וְלֹ֥א אָב֖וּא שְׁמֽוֹעַ׃ is he who declares to them, “This is the resting place, let the weary rest;^flet the weary rest I.e., do not embark on any political adventure at this time. this is the place of repose.” They refuse to listen.

וְהָיָ֨ה לָהֶ֜ם דְּבַר־יְהֹוָ֗ה צַ֣ו לָצָ֞ו צַ֤ו לָצָו֙ קַ֤ו לָקָו֙ קַ֣ו לָקָ֔ו זְעֵ֥יר שָׁ֖ם זְעֵ֣יר שָׁ֑ם לְמַ֨עַן יֵלְכ֜וּ וְכָשְׁל֤וּ אָחוֹר֙ וְנִשְׁבָּ֔רוּ וְנוֹקְשׁ֖וּ וְנִלְכָּֽדוּ׃ {פ}
To them the word of GOD is:
“Mutter upon mutter,
Murmur upon murmur,
Now here, now there.”
And so they will march,^gmarch I.e., embark on the political adventure.
But they shall fall backward,
And be injured and snared and captured.

לָכֵ֛ן שִׁמְע֥וּ דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה אַנְשֵׁ֣י לָצ֑וֹן מֹֽשְׁלֵי֙ הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ Hear now the word of GOD,
You scoffers,
Who govern that people^hWho govern that people Or “composers of taunt-verses for that people.”
In Jerusalem!

כִּ֣י אֲמַרְתֶּ֗ם כָּרַ֤תְנֽוּ בְרִית֙ אֶת־מָ֔וֶת וְעִם־שְׁא֖וֹל עָשִׂ֣ינוּ חֹזֶ֑ה (שיט) [שׁ֣וֹט] שׁוֹטֵ֤ף כִּי־[יַֽעֲבֹר֙] (עבר) לֹ֣א יְבוֹאֵ֔נוּ כִּ֣י שַׂ֧מְנוּ כָזָ֛ב מַחְסֵ֖נוּ וּבַשֶּׁ֥קֶר נִסְתָּֽרְנוּ׃ {פ}
For you have said,
“We have made a covenant with Death,
Concluded a pact with Sheol.
When the sweeping flood passes through,
It shall not reach us;
For we have made falsehood our refuge,
Taken shelter in treachery.”

לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה הִנְנִ֛י יִסַּ֥ד בְּצִיּ֖וֹן אָ֑בֶן אֶ֣בֶן בֹּ֜חַן פִּנַּ֤ת יִקְרַת֙ מוּסָ֣ד מוּסָּ֔ד הַֽמַּאֲמִ֖ין לֹ֥א יָחִֽישׁ׃ Assuredly,
Thus said the Sovereign GOD:
“Behold, I will found in Zion,
Stone by stone,
A tower of precious cornerstones,ⁱA tower of precious cornerstones Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
Exceedingly firm;
One who trusts need not fear.

וְשַׂמְתִּ֤י מִשְׁפָּט֙ לְקָ֔ו וּצְדָקָ֖ה לְמִשְׁקָ֑לֶת וְיָעָ֤ה בָרָד֙ מַחְסֵ֣ה כָזָ֔ב וְסֵ֥תֶר מַ֖יִם יִשְׁטֹֽפוּ׃ {ס}         But I will apply judgment as a measuring line
And retribution^jretribution As in 1.27; 5.16; 10.22. as weights;^kI will apply … as weights I.e., I will make judgment and retribution My plan of action; cf. 34.11; 2 Kings 21.13.
Hail shall sweep away the refuge of falsehood,
And flood-waters engulf your shelter.

וְכֻפַּ֤ר בְּרִֽיתְכֶם֙ אֶת־מָ֔וֶת וְחָזוּתְכֶ֥ם אֶת־שְׁא֖וֹל לֹ֣א תָק֑וּם שׁ֤וֹט שׁוֹטֵף֙ כִּ֣י יַֽעֲבֹ֔ר וִהְיִ֥יתֶם ל֖וֹ לְמִרְמָֽס׃ Your covenant with Death shall be annulled,
Your pact with Sheol shall not endure;
When the sweeping flood passes through,
You shall be its victims.

מִדֵּ֤י עׇבְרוֹ֙ יִקַּ֣ח אֶתְכֶ֔ם כִּֽי־בַבֹּ֧קֶר בַּבֹּ֛קֶר יַעֲבֹ֖ר בַּיּ֣וֹם וּבַלָּ֑יְלָה וְהָיָ֥ה רַק־זְוָעָ֖ה הָבִ֥ין שְׁמוּעָֽה׃ It shall catch you
Every time it passes through;
It shall pass through every morning,
Every day and every night.
And it shall be sheer horror
To grasp the message.”

כִּֽי־קָצַ֥ר הַמַּצָּ֖ע מֵהִשְׂתָּרֵ֑עַ וְהַמַּסֵּכָ֥ה צָ֖רָה כְּהִתְכַּנֵּֽס׃ The couch is too short for stretching out,
And the cover too narrow for curling up!

כִּ֤י כְהַר־פְּרָצִים֙ יָק֣וּם יְהֹוָ֔ה כְּעֵ֖מֶק בְּגִבְע֣וֹן יִרְגָּ֑ז לַעֲשׂ֤וֹת מַעֲשֵׂ֙הוּ֙ זָ֣ר מַעֲשֵׂ֔הוּ וְלַֽעֲבֹד֙ עֲבֹ֣דָת֔וֹ נׇכְרִיָּ֖ה עֲבֹדָתֽוֹ׃ For GOD will arise
As on the hill of Perazim;
[God] will be roused
As in the vale of Gibeon,
To do godly work—
Strange is this work!
And to perform God’s task—
Astounding is this task!^lStrange is … God’s task Instead of giving victory, as at Baal-perazim and Gibeon (cf. 2 Sam. 5.19–25; 1 Chron. 14.9–16), God will inflict punishment.

וְעַתָּה֙ אַל־תִּתְלוֹצָ֔צוּ פֶּֽן־יֶחְזְק֖וּ מֽוֹסְרֵיכֶ֑ם כִּֽי־כָלָ֨ה וְנֶחֱרָצָ֜ה שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי מֵאֵ֨ת אֲדֹנָ֧י יֱהֹוִ֛ה צְבָא֖וֹת עַל־כׇּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ {פ}
Therefore, refrain from mockery,
Lest your bonds be tightened.
For I have heard a decree of destruction
From my Sovereign GOD of Hosts
Against all the land.

הַאֲזִ֥ינוּ וְשִׁמְע֖וּ קוֹלִ֑י הַקְשִׁ֥יבוּ וְשִׁמְע֖וּ אִמְרָתִֽי׃ Give diligent ear to my words,
Attend carefully to what I say.

הֲכֹ֣ל הַיּ֔וֹם יַחֲרֹ֥שׁ הַחֹרֵ֖שׁ לִזְרֹ֑עַ יְפַתַּ֥ח וִֽישַׂדֵּ֖ד אַדְמָתֽוֹ׃ Do those who plow to sow
Plow all the time,
Breaking up and furrowing their land?

הֲלוֹא֙ אִם־שִׁוָּ֣ה פָנֶ֔יהָ וְהֵפִ֥יץ קֶ֖צַח וְכַמֹּ֣ן יִזְרֹ֑ק וְשָׂ֨ם חִטָּ֤ה שׂוֹרָה֙ וּשְׂעֹרָ֣ה נִסְמָ֔ן וְכֻסֶּ֖מֶת גְּבֻלָתֽוֹ׃ When they have smoothed its surface,
Do they not rather broadcast black cumin
And scatter cumin,
Or set wheat in a row,^mset wheat in a row In some Near Eastern countries, wheat is actually planted rather than scattered.
Barley in a strip,
And emmer in a patch?

וְיִסְּר֥וֹ לַמִּשְׁפָּ֖ט אֱלֹהָ֥יו יוֹרֶֽנּוּ׃ For they are taught the right manner,
Their God instructs them.

כִּ֣י לֹ֤א בֶחָרוּץ֙ י֣וּדַשׁ קֶ֔צַח וְאוֹפַ֣ן עֲגָלָ֔ה עַל־כַּמֹּ֖ן יוּסָּ֑ב כִּ֧י בַמַּטֶּ֛ה יֵחָ֥בֶט קֶ֖צַח וְכַמֹּ֥ן בַּשָּֽׁבֶט׃ So, too, black cumin is not threshed with a threshing board,
Nor is the wheel of a threshing sledge rolled over cumin;
But black cumin is beaten out with a stick
And cumin with a rod.

לֶ֣חֶם יוּדָ֔ק כִּ֛י לֹ֥א לָנֶ֖צַח אָד֣וֹשׁ יְדוּשֶׁ֑נּוּ וְ֠הָמַ֠ם גִּלְגַּ֧ל עֶגְלָת֛וֹ וּפָרָשָׁ֖יו לֹ֥א יְדֻקֶּֽנּוּ׃ It is cereal that is crushed.ⁿcrushed Emendation yields “threshed.”
For even if^oeven if Taking loʼ as equivalent to lu. it is threshed thoroughly,
And overwhelmed by the wheel of a sledge and horses,^poverwhelmed … horses Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
It will not be crushed.

גַּם־זֹ֕את מֵעִ֛ם יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת יָצָ֑אָה הִפְלִ֣א עֵצָ֔ה הִגְדִּ֖יל תּוּשִׁיָּֽה׃ {פ}
That, too, is ordered by GOD of Hosts—
Whose counsel is unfathomable,
And whose wisdom is marvelous.