Isaiah

The Captivity of Ephraim

1Woe to the majestic crown of Ephraim’sdrunkards,to the fading flower of his glorious splendor,set on the summit above the fertile valley,the pride of those overcome by wine.

2Behold, the Lord has onewho is strong and mighty.Like a hailstorm or destructive tempest,like a driving rain or flooding downpour, he will smash that crown to the ground.

3The majestic crown of Ephraim’s drunkardswill be trampled underfoot.

4The fading flower of his beautiful splendor,set on the summit above the fertile valley,will be like a ripe fig before the summer harvest:Whoever sees it will take it in his hand and swallow it.

5On that day the LORD of Hosts will be a crown of glory,a diadem of splendor to the remnant of His people,

6a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment,and a strength to those who repel the onslaught at the gate.

7These also stagger from wineand stumble from strong drink:Priests and prophets reel from strong drinkand are befuddled by wine.They stumble because of strong drink,muddled in their visions and stumbling in their judgments.

8For all their tables are covered with vomit;there is not a place without filth.

9Whom is He trying to teach?To whom is He explaining His message?To infants just weaned from milk?To babies removed from the breast?

10For they hear:“Order on order, order on order, line on line, line on line; a little here, a little there.”

11Indeed, with mocking lips and foreign tongues,He will speak to this people

12to whom He has said:“This is the place of rest, let the weary rest;this is the place of repose.” But they would not listen.

13Then the word of the LORD to them will become:“Order on order, order on order, line on line, line on line; a little here, a little there,”so that they will go stumbling backwardand will be injured, ensnared, and captured.

A Cornerstone in Zion

14Therefore hear the word of the LORD, O scofferswho rule this people in Jerusalem.

15For you said, “We have made a covenant with death;we have fashioned an agreement with Sheol.When the overwhelming scourge passes throughit will not touch us,because we have made lies our refugeand falsehoodour hiding place.”

16So this is what the Lord GOD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion,a tested stone,a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation;the one who believes will never be shaken.

17I will make justice the measuring lineand righteousness the level.Hail will sweep away your refuge of lies,and water will flood your hiding place.

18Your covenant with death will be dissolved,and your agreement with Sheol will not stand.When the overwhelming scourge passes through,you will be trampled by it.

19As often as it passes through,it will carry you away;it will sweep through morning after morning,by day and by night.” The understanding of this messagewill bring sheer terror.

20Indeed, the bed is too short to stretch out on,and the blanket too small to wrap around you.

21For the LORD will rise up as at Mount Perazim.He will rouse Himself as in the Valley of Gibeon,to do His work, His strange work,and to perform His task, His disturbing task.

22So now, do not mock,or your shackles will become heavier.Indeed, I have heard from the Lord GOD of Hostsa decree of destruction against the whole land.

Listen and Hear

23Listen and hear my voice.Pay attention and hear what I say.

24Does the plowman plow for planting every day?Does he continuously loosen and harrow the soil?

25When he has leveled its surface,does he not sow caraway and scatter cumin?He plants wheat in rows and barley in plots,and rye within its border.

26For his God instructsand teaches him properly.

27Surely caraway is not threshed with a sledge,and the wheel of a cart is not rolled over the cumin.But caraway is beaten out with a stick,and cumin with a rod.

28Grain for bread must be ground,but it is not endlessly threshed.Though the wheels of the cart roll over it,the horses do not crush it.

29This also comes from the LORD of Hosts,who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom.

1cho những kẻ bị ma men quật ngã.

2Người thẳng tay giáng trên mặt đất.

3của bọn Ép-ra-im say sưa,

4ai thấy và hái được là nuốt ngay tức khắc.

5cho số còn sót lại của dân Người,

6nên sức hùng cho người đẩy lui chiến tranh xa cổng thành.

7chếnh choáng trong thị kiến, loạng quạng khi xét xử.

8Quả thật, chúng nôn mửa đầy bàn, không còn chỗ nào sạch.

9Có chăng là cho trẻ thơ cai sữa vừa thôi bú !”

10cáp la-cáp, cáp la-cáp, dơ-e sam, dơ-e sam !”

11và tiếng nói xa lạ mà nói với dân này.

12Nhưng chúng chẳng thèm nghe.

13chúng sẽ bị tan nát, sẽ sa vào bẫy, và sẽ bị bắt giam.

14những kẻ đang cai trị dân này ở Giê-ru-sa-lem.

15vì hầm trú của ta là dối trá, nơi ẩn núp của ta là xảo quyệt.”

16ai tin tưởng sẽ không hề nao núng.

17nước lũ sẽ cuốn trôi nơi trú ẩn.

18Khi tai ương khốc liệt tràn qua, các ngươi sẽ bị chà đạp.

19nghe tin và hiểu được rồi, thì chỉ còn biết run lên cầm cập.

20chăn sẽ quá hẹp, nằm co cũng không kín.

21để thực hiện công trình của Người, công trình tuyệt tác.

22đã quyết thi hành án tận diệt trên khắp mọi miền.

23Hãy lắng tai nghe tiếng của tôi, hãy để tâm nghe lời tôi nói.

24cứ cuốc sâu bừa kỹ ruộng của mình ?

25và lúa mì nâu ở ven bờ ruộng.

26chính Thiên Chúa của anh dạy bảo anh.

27nhưng lấy gậy đập tảo vĩ, lấy đòn xóc đập thì là.

28chứ không phải là để nghiền nát.

29Kế hoạch sao nhiệm mầu, sự khôn ngoan thật là cao cả !