[1] Woe to that wreath, the pride of Ephraim’s drunkards, to the fading flower, his glorious beauty, set on the head of a fertile valley—to that city, the pride of those laid low by wine! [2] See, the Lord has one who is powerful and strong. Like a hailstorm and a destructive wind, like a driving rain and a flooding downpour, he will throw it forcefully to the ground. [3] That wreath, the pride of Ephraim’s drunkards, will be trampled underfoot. [4] That fading flower, his glorious beauty, set on the head of a fertile valley, will be like figs ripe before harvest—as soon as people see them and take them in hand, they swallow them. [5] In that day the LORD Almighty will be a glorious crown, a beautiful wreath for the remnant of his people. [6] He will be a spirit of justice to the one who sits in judgment, a source of strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate. [7] And these also stagger from wine and reel from beer: Priests and prophets stagger from beer and are befuddled with wine; they reel from beer, they stagger when seeing visions, they stumble when rendering decisions. [8] All the tables are covered with vomit and there is not a spot without filth. [9] “Who is it he is trying to teach? To whom is he explaining his message? To children weaned from their milk, to those just taken from the breast? [10] For it is: Do this, do that, a rule for this, a rule for that; a little here, a little there.” [11] Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues God will speak to this people, [12] to whom he said, “This is the resting place, let the weary rest”; and, “This is the place of repose”—but they would not listen. [13] So then, the word of the LORD to them will become: Do this, do that, a rule for this, a rule for that; a little here, a little there—so that as they go they will fall backward; they will be injured and snared and captured.
