Isaiah 28:1-13

Woe to the majestic crown of Ephraim’s drunkards,  and to the fading flower of its beautiful splendor, which is on the summit above the rich valley. Woe to those overcome with wine. Look, the Lord has a strong and mighty one   — like a devastating hail storm, like a storm with strong flooding water. He will bring it across the land with his hand. The majestic crown of Ephraim’s drunkards will be trampled underfoot. The fading flower of his beautiful splendor, which is on the summit above the rich valley, will be like a ripe fig before the summer harvest.  Whoever sees it will swallow it while it is still in his hand. On that day the Lord of Armies will become a crown of beauty and a diadem of splendor  to the remnant of his people, a spirit of justice to the one who sits in judgment,  and strength to those who repel attacks at the city gate. Even these stagger because of wine and stumble under the influence of beer: Priest and prophet stagger because of beer. They are confused by wine.  They stumble because of beer. They are muddled in their visions. They stumble in their judgments. Indeed, all their tables are covered with vomit; there is no place without a stench. Who is he trying to teach? Who is he trying to instruct? Infants  just weaned from milk? Babies  removed from the breast? “Law after law, law after law, line after line, line after line, a little here, a little there.”  For he will speak to this people with stammering speech and in a foreign language.  He had said to them, “This is the place of rest; let the weary rest;  this is the place of repose.” But they would not listen. The word of the  Lord will come to them: “Law after law, law after law, line after line, line after line, a little here, a little there,” so they go stumbling backward, to be broken, trapped, and captured.