Isaiah 28

Promise of Glory for the Remnant Isaiah 28:5–6

⁵Verse 5. In that day, Yahweh of Armies will become a crown of glory, and a diadem of beauty, to the residue of his people; ⁶Verse 6. and a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.

Judgment on Corrupt Leaders Isaiah 28:7–13

⁷Verse 7. They also 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. ⁸Verse 8. For all tables are completely full of filthy vomit and filthiness. ⁹Verse 9. Whom will he teach knowledge? To whom will he explain the message? Those who are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts? ¹⁰Verse 10. For it is precept on precept, precept on precept; line on line, line on line; here a little, there a little. ¹¹Verse 11. But he will speak to this nation with stammering lips and in another language;

¹²Verse 12. to whom he said, “This is the resting place. Give rest to weary”; and “This is the refreshing”; yet they would not hear. ¹³Verse 13. Therefore Yahweh’s word will 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, fall backward, be broken, be snared, and be taken.

Covenant with Death Exposed Isaiah 28:14–19

¹⁴Verse 14. Therefore hear Yahweh’s word, you scoffers, that rule this people in Jerusalem: ¹⁵Verse 15. “Because you have said, ‘We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol are we in agreement. When the overflowing scourge passes through, it won’t come to us; for we have made lies our refuge, and we have hidden ourselves under falsehood.’” ¹⁶Verse 16. Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh, “Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone of a sure foundation. He who believes shall not act hastily. ¹⁷Verse 17. I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plumb line. The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters will overflow the hiding place.

¹⁸Verse 18. Your covenant with death shall be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol shall not stand. When the overflowing scourge passes through, then you will be trampled down by it. ¹⁹Verse 19. As often as it passes through, it will seize you; for morning by morning it will pass through, by day and by night; and it will be nothing but terror to understand the message.”

God's Justice and Warning Isaiah 28:20–22

²⁰Verse 20. For the bed is too short to stretch out on, and the blanket is too narrow to wrap oneself in. ²¹Verse 21. For Yahweh will rise up as on Mount Perazim. He will be angry as in the valley of Gibeon; that he may do his work, his unusual work, and bring to pass his act, his extraordinary act. ²²Verse 22. Now therefore don’t be scoffers, lest your bonds be made strong; for I have heard a decree of destruction from the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, on the whole earth.

Wisdom in God's Agricultural Design Isaiah 28:23–29

²³Verse 23. Give ear, and hear my voice! Listen, and hear my speech! ²⁴Verse 24. Does he who plows to sow plow continually? Does he keep turning the soil and breaking the clods? ²⁵Verse 25. When he has leveled its surface, doesn’t he plant the dill, and scatter the cumin seed, and put in the wheat in rows, the barley in the appointed place, and the spelt in its place? ²⁶Verse 26. For his God instructs him in right judgment, and teaches him. ²⁷Verse 27. For the dill are not threshed with a sharp instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned over the cumin; but the dill is beaten out with a stick, and the cumin with a rod.

²⁸Verse 28. Bread flour must be ground; so he will not always be threshing it. Although he drives the wheel of his threshing cart over it, his horses don’t grind it. ²⁹Verse 29. This also comes out from Yahweh of Armies, who is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in wisdom.