6. For a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment,And for strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.
7. But they also have erred through wine,And through intoxicating drink are out of the way;The priest and the prophet have erred through intoxicating drink,They are swallowed up by wine,They are out of the way through intoxicating drink;They err in vision, they stumble in judgment.
8. For all tables are full of vomit and filth;No place is clean.
9. “Whom will he teach knowledge?And whom will he make to understand the message?Those just weaned from milk?Those just drawn from the breasts?
10. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept,Line upon line, line upon line,Here a little, there a little.”
11. For with stammering lips and another tongueHe will speak to this people,
12. To whom He said, “This is the rest with whichYou may cause the weary to rest,”And, “This is the refreshing”;Yet they would not hear.
13. But the word of the Lord was to them,“Precept upon precept, precept upon precept,Line upon line, line upon line,Here a little, there a little,”That they might go and fall backward, and be brokenAnd snared and caught.
14. Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you scornful men,Who rule this people who are in Jerusalem,
15. Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death,And with Sheol we are in agreement.When the overflowing scourge passes through,It will not come to us,For we have made lies our refuge,And under falsehood we have hidden ourselves.”
16. Therefore thus says the Lord God:“Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation,A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation;Whoever believes will not act hastily.
17. Also I will make justice the measuring line,And righteousness the plummet;The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies,And the waters will overflow the hiding place.