13. Then the word of the Lord came 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.
14. Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you mockers who rule this people in Jerusalem.
15. For you said, “We have cut a deal with Death,and we have made an agreement with Sheol;when the overwhelming scourge passes through, it will not touch us,because we have made falsehood our refugeand have hidden behind treachery.”
16. Therefore the Lord God said:“Look, I have laid a stone in Zion,a tested stone,a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will be unshakable.
17. And I will make justice the measuring lineand righteousness the mason’s level.” Hail will sweep away the false refuge,and water will flood your hiding place.
18. Your deal with Death will be dissolved,and your agreement with Sheol will not last.When the overwhelming scourge passes through,you will be trampled.
19. Every time it passes through,it will carry you away;it will pass through every morning —every day and every night.Only terror will cause youto understand the message.
20. Indeed, the bed is too short to stretch out on,and its cover too small to wrap up in.