Isaiæ 28
1 Væ coronæ superbiæ, ebriis Ephraim, et flori decidenti, gloriæ exultationis eius, qui erant in vertice vallis pinguissimæ, errantes a vino.
Woe to the proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim, To the fading flower, his glorious beauty, At the head of the rich valley of a people stupefied with wine.
2 Ecce validus et fortis Dominus sicut impetus grandinis: turbo confringens, sicut impetus aquarum multarum inundantium, et emissarum super terram spatiosam.
Behold a strong, a mighty one from the Lord Like a storm of hail, like a destructive tempest, Like a flood of mighty, overflowing waters, With violence shall dash it to the ground.
3 Pedibus conculcabitur corona superbiæ ebriorum Ephraim.
It shall be trodden under foot, The proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim.
4 Et erit flos decidens gloriæ exultationis eius, qui est super verticem vallis pinguium, quasi temporaneum ante maturitatem autumni: quod cum aspexerit videns, statim ut manu tenuerit, devorabit illud.
And the fading flower, their glorious beauty, At the head of the rich valley, Shall be as the early fig before the time of harvest, Which whoso seeth plucketh immediately, And swalloweth as soon as it is in his hand.
5 In die illa erit Dominus exercituum corona gloriæ, et sertum exultationis residuo populi sui:
In that day shall Jehovah of hosts Be a glorious crown, and a beautiful diadem to the residue of his people;
6 et spiritus iudicii sedenti super iudicium, et fortitudo revertentibus de bello ad portam.
A spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, And of strength to them that drive back the enemy to their gates.
7 Verum hi quoque præ vino nescierunt, et præ ebrietate erraverunt: sacerdos et propheta nescierunt præ ebrietate, absorpti sunt a vino, erraverunt in ebrietate, nescierunt videntem, ignoraverunt iudicium.
But even these stagger through wine, And reel through strong drink; The priest and the prophet stagger through strong drink; They are overpowered with wine; They stumble through strong drink; They reel in vision, They stagger in judgment.
8 Omnes enim mensæ repletæ sunt vomitu sordiumque, ita ut non esset ultra locus.
For all their tables are full of filthy vomit, So that there is no place clean.
9 Quem docebit scientiam? et quem intelligere faciet auditum? ablactatos a lacte, avulsos ab uberibus.
“Whom,” say they, “will he teach knowledge, And to whom will he impart instruction? To the weaned from the milk? To those just taken from the breast?
10 Quia manda remanda, manda remanda, expecta reexpecta, expecta reexpecta, modicum ibi, modicum ibi.
For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, Command upon command, command upon command, A little here, and a little there.”
11 In loquela enim labii, et lingua altera loquetur ad populum istum.
Yea, with stammering lips and a strange tongue He shall indeed speak to this people;
12 Cui dixit: Hæc est requies mea, reficite lassum, et hoc est meum refrigerium: et noluerunt audire.
He that said to them, “This is the way of rest, give rest to the weary; This is the way of safety”; But they would not hear.
13 Et erit eis verbum Domini: Manda remanda, manda remanda, expecta reexspecta, expecta reexspecta, modicum ibi, modicum ibi: ut vadant, et cadant retrorsum, et conterantur, et illaqueentur, et capiantur.
Then shall the word of Jehovah be indeed to them “Precept upon precept, precept upon precept, Command upon command, command upon command, A little here, and a little there,” So that they shall go on, and fall backwards, and be broken, And be snared and caught.
14 Propter hoc audite verbum Domini viri illusores, qui dominamini super populum meum, qui est in Ierusalem.
Wherefore hear ye the word of Jehovah, Ye scoffers, who rule this people in Jerusalem!
15 Dixistis enim: Percussimus fœdus cum morte, et cum inferno fecimus pactum. Flagellum inundans cum transierit, non veniet super nos: quia posuimus mendacium spem nostram, et mendacio protecti sumus. (Sheol h7585)
Since ye say, “We have entered into a covenant with death, And with the under-world have we made an agreement, The overflowing scourge, when it passeth through, shall not reach us; For we have made falsehood our refuge, And in deceit we have hidden ourselves.” (Sheol h7585)
16 Idcirco hæc dicit Dominus Deus: Ecce ego mittam in fundamentis Sion lapidem, lapidem probatum, angularem, pretiosum, in fundamento fundatum, qui crediderit, non festinet.
Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I have laid in Zion as a foundation a stone, A tried stone, a precious corner-stone, a sure foundation; He that trusteth shall not flee away.
17 Et ponam in pondere iudicium, et iustitiam in mensura: et subvertet grando spem mendacii: et protectionem aquæ inundabunt.
I will make justice a line, And righteousness a plummet, And the hail shall sweep away the refuge of falsehood, And the waters shall overwhelm its hiding-place;
18 Et delebitur fœdus vestrum cum morte, et pactum vestrum cum inferno non stabit: flagellum inundans cum transierit, eritis ei in conculcationem. (Sheol h7585)
And your covenant with death shall be broken, And your agreement with the under-world shall not stand; When the overflowing scourge shall pass through, By it shall ye be beaten down. (Sheol h7585)
19 Quandocumque pertransierit, tollet vos: quoniam in mane diluculo pertransibit in die et in nocte, et tantummodo sola vexatio intellectum dabit auditui.
As often as it passeth through, it shall bear you away; For every morning shall it pass through, By day and by night; Even to hear the rumor of it shall be terrible.
20 Coangustatum est enim stratum, ita ut alter decidat: et pallium breve utrumque operire non potest.
Yea, the bed is too short for one to stretch himself on it, And the covering too narrow for one to wrap himself in it.
21 Sicut enim in monte divisionum stabit Dominus: sicut in valle, quæ est in Gabaon, irascetur: ut faciat opus suum, alienum opus eius: ut operetur opus suum, peregrinum est opus eius ab eo.
For Jehovah will rise up, as in mount Perazim; He will be moved with anger, as in the valley of Gibeon, To perform his act, his strange act, And to execute his work, his strange work.
22 Et nunc nolite illudere, ne forte constringantur vincula vestra. consummationem enim et abbreviationem audivi a Domino Deo exercituum super universam terram.
Now, therefore, be ye no longer scoffers, Lest your bands become stronger; For destruction and punishment have been revealed to me From Jehovah of hosts concerning the whole land!
23 Auribus percipite, et audite vocem meam, attendite, et audite eloquium meum.
Give ear, and listen to my voice, Attend, and hearken to my words!
24 Numquid tota die arabit arans ut serat, proscindet et sarriet humum suam?
Is the ploughman always ploughing in order to sow? Is he always opening and harrowing his field?
25 Nonne cum adæquaverit faciem eius, seret gith, et cyminum sparget, et ponet triticum per ordinem, et hordeum, et milium, et viciam in finibus suis?
When he hath made the face thereof even, Doth he not then scatter the dill, and cast abroad the cumin, And sow the wheat in rows, And the barley in its appointed place, And the spelt in his border?
26 Et erudiet illum in iudicio: Deus suus docebit illum.
Thus his God rightly instructeth him, And giveth him knowledge.
27 Non enim in serris triturabitur gith, nec rota plaustri super cyminum circuibit: sed in virga excutietur gith et cyminum in baculo.
The dill is not beaten out with the thrashing-sledge, Nor is the wheel of the wain rolled over the cumin; But the dill is beaten out with a staff, And the cumin with a rod.
28 Panis autem comminuetur: verum non in perpetuum triturans triturabit illum, neque vexabit eum rota plaustri, neque ungulis suis comminuet eum.
Bread-corn is beaten out, Yet doth not the husbandman thrash it without limit. He driveth over it the wheels of the wain, And the horses, yet doth he not utterly crush it.
29 Et hoc a Domino Deo exercituum exivit, ut mirabile faceret consilium, et magnificaret iustitiam.
This also proceedeth from Jehovah of hosts; He is wonderful in counsel, Excellent in wisdom.
