1. 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.
2. Look, the Lord has a strong and mighty one —like a devastating hail storm,like a storm with strong flooding waters.He will bring it across the land with His hand.
3. The majestic crown of Ephraim’s drunkardswill be trampled underfoot.
4. 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 itwhile it is still in his hand.
5. On that daythe Lord of Hosts will become a crown of beautyand a diadem of splendor to the remnant of His people,
6. a spirit of justiceto the one who sits in judgment, and strengthto those who turn back the battle at the gate.
7. These also stagger because of wineand 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.
8. Indeed, all their tables are covered with vomit;there is no place without a stench.
9. Who is he trying to teach?Who is he trying to instruct?Infants just weaned from milk?Babies removed from the breast?
10. For he says: “Law after law, law after law,line after line, line after line,a little here, a little there.”