3. The majestic garland of Ephraim’s drunkswill be trampled underfoot.
4. The withered flower, which is a thing of beautyas it sits on the head of those bloated with fat,will be like an early fig before the summer harvest:whoever sees it swallows it as soon as it is in hand.
5. On that day, the Lord of heavenly forces will be a splendid garland and a beautiful wreath for the people who survive,
6. and a spirit of justice for the one who sits in judgment, and a strength for those who repel the assault at the gate.
7. These also stagger from wine and stumble from beer:priest and prophet stagger from beer;they are confused by wine;they stray on account of beer;they err when receiving visions;they stumble when making judgments.
8. All the tables are covered with vomit;filth overruns the place.
9. To whom will God teach knowledge?To whom will he explain the message?To those just weaned from milk?To those who have hardly outgrown the breast?
10. It is "tsav letsav, tsav lestav; qav leqav, qav leqav,"a little of this, a little of that.
11. With derisive speech and a foreign tongue,he will speak to this people.