(KJV) Isaiah 28¹

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⥃The Captivity of Ephraim

[1] Woe to the crown² of pride, to the drunkards³ of Ephraim, whose⁴ glorious beauty [is] a fading flower, which [are] on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome⁵ with wine!⁶ [2] Behold, the Lord⁷ hath a mighty and strong one, [which] as a tempest⁸ of hail [and] a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand. [3] The crown⁹ of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall¹⁰ be trodden under feet¹¹: [4] And the glorious beauty, which [is] on the head of the fat valley, shall be¹² a fading flower, [and] as the hasty¹³ fruit before the summer; which [when] he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth¹⁴ it up.

[5] [¶]In that day shall the¹⁵ Lord of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem¹⁶ of beauty, unto the residue¹⁷ of his people, [6] And for a spirit¹⁸ of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength¹⁹ to them that turn the battle to the gate.

[7] [¶]But they also have erred²⁰ through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed²¹ up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in²² vision, they stumble [in] judgment. [8] For all tables are full of vomit [and] filthiness, [so that there is] no place [clean].²³

[9] Whom shall he teach²⁴ knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine²⁵? [them that are] weaned²⁶ from the milk, [and] drawn from the breasts. [10] For precept²⁷ [must be²⁸] upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, [and] there a little: [11] For with²⁹ stammering lips³⁰ and another tongue will he speak³¹ to this people. [12] To whom he said, This³² [is] the rest [wherewith] ye may cause the weary to rest; and this [is] the refreshing: yet³³ they would not hear. [13] But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept³⁴, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, [and] there a little; that³⁵ they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

⥃A Cornerstone in Zion ^{[ 1 Corinthians 3:10–15 † Ephesians 2:19–22 † 1 Peter 2:1–8 ]}

[14] Wherefore hear the word of the Lord, ye³⁶ scornful men, that rule this people which [is] in Jerusalem. [15] Because ye have said, We have³⁷ made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when³⁸ the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made³⁹ lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:

[16] [¶]Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold⁴⁰, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner [stone], a sure foundation: he that⁴¹ believeth shall not make haste. [17] Judgment⁴² also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail⁴³ shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters⁴⁴ shall overflow the hiding place.

[18] [¶]And your covenant⁴⁵ with death shall be disannulled⁴⁶, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when⁴⁷ the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it⁴⁸. [19] From the time⁴⁹ that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it⁵⁰ shall be a vexation only [to] understand the report⁵¹. [20] For the bed⁵² is shorter than that [a man] can stretch himself [on it]: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself [in it]. [21] For the Lord shall rise up as [in] mount Perazim⁵³, he shall be wroth as [in] the valley⁵⁴ of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange⁵⁵ work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act. [22] Now therefore be ye⁵⁶ not mockers, lest⁵⁷ your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord God of hosts a consumption⁵⁸, even determined upon the whole earth.

⥃Listen and Hear

[23] Give ye ear, and hear my voice; hearken, and hear my speech.⁵⁹ [24] Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? doth he open and break⁶⁰ the clods of his ground? [25] When he hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and cast in the principal⁶¹ wheat and the appointed barley and the rie in their place⁶²? [26] For his God⁶³ doth instruct him to discretion, [and] doth teach him. [27] For the fitches are not threshed⁶⁴ with a threshing instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the fitches⁶⁵ are beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod. [28] Bread⁶⁶ [corn] is bruised; because he will not ever be threshing it, nor break [it with] the wheel⁶⁷ of his cart, nor bruise it [with] his horsemen. [29] This also cometh⁶⁸ forth from the Lord of hosts, [which] is wonderful in counsel, [and] excellent in working.

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