Shaya 28
Woe to the crown of pride of Ephraim's drunkards, to the fading flower of his glorious beauty which is at the head of a fertile valley, to those who are overcome with wine! 2Behold, the Lord has one who is mighty and strong. Like a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, like a tempest of mighty waters overflowing, he will cast down to the earth with his hand. 3The crown of pride of Ephraim's drunkards shall be trodden under foot: 4and the fading flower of his glorious beauty which is at the head of a fertile valley, shall be as the first-ripe fig before the summer; which when he who looks on it sees, while it is yet in his hand he eats it up. 5In that day will Allah, Lord of the universe become a crown of glory, and a diadem of beauty, to the residue of his people; 6and a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate. 7Even these reel with wine, and stagger with strong drink; the priest and the prophet reel with strong drink, they are swallowed up by wine, they stagger with strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. 8For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean. 9Whom will he teach knowledge? And whom will he make to understand the message? Those who are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts? 10For it is precept on precept, precept on precept; line on line, line on line; here a little, there a little. 11No, but by men of strange lips and with another language will he speak to this people; 12to whom he said, This is the rest, give rest to him who is weary; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.[1] 13Therefore shall the word of Allah be to them precept on precept, precept on precept; line on line, line on line; here a little, there a little; that they may go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. 14Therefore hear the word of Allah, you scoffers, that rule this people in Jerusalem: 15Because you have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with the grave are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come to us; for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: 16therefore thus says the Lord Allah, Behold, I lay in Al-Quds for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone of sure foundation: whoever believes will not be disappointed.[2] 17I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plummet; and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. 18Your covenant with death shall be annulled, and your agreement with the grave shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then you shall be trodden down by it. 19As often as it passes though, it shall take you; for morning by morning shall it pass through, by day and by night: and it shall be a terror just to understand the message. 20For the bed is too short to stretch out on; and the covering too narrow to wrap oneself in. 21For Allah will rise up as he did on Mount Perazim, he will be angry as in the valley of Gibeon; that he may do his work, his awesome work, and bring to pass his act, his unusual act. 22Now therefore do not be scoffers, lest your bonds be made strong; for a decree of destruction have I heard from the Lord, Allah, Lord of the universe, on the whole earth. 23Give ear, and hear my voice; listen, and hear my speech. 24Does he who plows to plant seed plow continually? Does he continually turn the soil and break the clods? 25When he has leveled its surface, does not he sow the dill seed, and scatter the cumin, and plant the wheat in rows, and the barley in the appointed place, and the spelt in its place? 26For his God instructs him aright, and teaches him. 27For the dill is not threshed with a sharp threshing instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about on the cumin; but the dill is beaten out with a staff, and the cumin with a rod. 28Bread flour is ground; for he will not be always threshing it: and though the wheel of his cart and his horses scatter it, he does not grind it. 29This also comes forth from Allah, Lord of the universe, who is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in wisdom.