Woe to Ephraim's Drunkards

Isaiah 28

The prophet pronounces woe on the proud, drunken leaders of Ephraim and on the scoffing rulers of Jerusalem who trust in a covenant with death for their protection. The Lord promises instead to lay a precious cornerstone in Zion for those who believe, and illustrates his varied, purposeful dealings through the image of a farmer working his field.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

Thomson(p) AH! the crown of haughtiness! The mercenaries of Ephraim! That flower which hath fallen from the glory on the top of the fertile mountain! Ye who are drunk without wine!

BrentonWoe to the crown of pride, the hirelings of Ephraim, the flower that has fallen from the glory of the top of the fertile mountain, they that are drunken without wine.

GreekΟὐαὶ τῷ στεφάνῳ τῆς ὕβρεως, οἱ μισθωτοὶ Ἐφραῒμ, τὸ ἄνθος τὸ ἐκπεσὸν ἐκ τῆς δόξης ἐπὶ τῆς κορυφῆς τοῦ ὄρους τοῦ παχέος, οἱ μεθύοντες ἄνευ οἴνου.

KJVWoe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine!

JPSWoe to the crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim, And to the fading flower of his glorious beauty, Which is on the head of the fat valley of them that are smitten down with wine!

ThomsonBehold the wrath of the Lord is a harsh and terrible thing. Like a tempest of hail furiously driven when there is no shelter, like a mighty deluge sweeping a country. In this land it will put a stop to the labour of hands;

BrentonBehold, the anger of the Lord is strong and severe, as descending hail where there is no shelter, violently descending; as a great body of water sweeping away the soil, he shall make rest for the land.

GreekἸδοὺ ἰσχυρὸν καὶ σκληρὸν ὁ θυμὸς Κυρίου, ὡς χάλαζα καταφερομένη οὐκ ἔχουσα σκέπην, βίᾳ καταφερομένη· ὡς ὕδατος πολὺ πλῆθος σῦρον χώραν, τῇ γῇ ποιήσει ἀνάπαυμα· ταῖς χερσὶ,

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonand with the feet shall be trampled down the crown of your pride, O mercenaries of Ephraim.

BrentonThe crown of pride, the hirelings of Ephraim, shall be beaten down with the hands and with the feet.

Greekκαὶ τοῖς ποσὶ καταπατηθήσεται ὁ στέφανος τῆς ὕβρεως, οἱ μισθωτοὶ τοῦ Ἐφραΐμ.

KJVThe crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet:

JPSThe crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim Shall be trodden under foot;

ThomsonAnd the flower which hath dropped from the hope of the Glory, on the top of the lofty mountain, shall be like the early fruit of a fig tree, which he who seeth it will wish to devour, before he can get it into his hand.

BrentonAnd the fading flower of the glorious hope on the top of the high mountain shall be as the early fig; he that sees it, before he takes it into his hand, will desire to swallow it down.

GreekΚαὶ ἔσται τὸ ἄνθος τὸ ἐκπεσὸν τῆς ἐλπίδος τῆς δόζῆς, ἐπʼ ἄκρου τοῦ ὄρους τοῦ ὑψηλοῦ· ὡς πρόδρομος σύκου, ὁ ἰδὼν αὐτό, πρὶν εἰς τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ λαβεῖν αὐτό, θελήσει αὐτὸ καταπιεῖν.

KJV—

JPSAnd the fading flower of his glorious beauty, Which is on the head of the fat valley, Shall be as the first-ripe fig before the summer, Which when one looketh upon it, While it is yet in his hand he eateth it up.

ThomsonIn that day the Lord of Hosts will be the crown of hope—the diadem of glory to the remnant of the people.

BrentonIn that day the Lord of hosts shall be the crown of hope, the woven crown of glory, to the remnant of the people.

GreekΤῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ἔσται Κύριος σαβαὼθ ὁ στέφανος τῆς ἐλπίδος, ὁ πλεκεὶς τῆς δόξης, τῷ καταλειφθέντι τοῦ λαοῦ.

KJVIn that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people,

JPSIn that day shall the LORD of hosts be For a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, Unto the residue of His people;

ThomsonThey shall be left for the spirit of Justice—to administer justice and destroy the power of the opposers. For by wine these were made transgressors;

BrentonThey shall be left in the spirit of judgment for judgment, and for the strength of them that hinder slaying.

GreekΚαταλειφθήσονται ἐπὶ πνεύματι κρίσεως ἐπὶ κρίσιν, καὶ ἰσχὺν κωλύων ἀνελεῖν.

KJVAnd for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.

JPSAnd for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, And for strength to them that turn back the battle at the gate.

Thomsonthey were led astray by strong drink. Priest and prophet were stupefied with strong drink; they were gorged with wine—they were agitated by drunkenness; they reeled to and fro. This is oracling!

BrentonFor these have trespassed through wine; they have erred through strong drink: the priest and the prophet are mad through strong drink, they are swallowed up by reason of wine, they have staggered through drunkenness; they have erred: this is their vision.

GreekΟὗτοι γὰρ οἴνῳ πεπλημμελημένοι εἰσίν· ἐπλανήθησαν διὰ τὸ σίκερα, ἱερεὺς καὶ προφήτης ἐξέστησαν διὰ τὸ σίκερα, κατεπόθησαν διὰ τὸν οἶνον, ἐσείσθησαν ἀπὸ τῆς μέθης, ἐπλανήθησαν· τοῦτέστι φάσμα.

KJVBut they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.

JPSBut these also reel through wine, And stagger through strong drink; The priest and the prophet reel through strong drink, They are confused because of wine, They stagger because of strong drink; They reel in vision, they totter in judgment.

ThomsonA curse shall devour their counsel; for their counsel is for the sake of gain.

BrentonA curse shall devour this counsel, for this is their counsel for the sake of covetousness.

GreekἈρὰ ἔδεται ταύτην τὴν βουλήν, αὕτη γὰρ ἡ βουλὴ ἕνεκα πλεονεξίας.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonTo whom, [say they*] have we announced evils? And to whom have we announced a message—we who have been weaned from milk, we who have been withdrawn from the breasts?

BrentonTo whom have we reported evils? and to whom have we reported a message? even to those that are weaned from the milk, who are drawn from the breast.

GreekΤίνι ἀνηγγείλαμεν κακά, καὶ τίνι ἀνηγγείλαμεν ἀγγελίαν; οἱ ἀπογεγαλακτισμένοι ἀπὸ γάλακτος, οἱ ἀπεσπασμένοι ἀπὸ μαστοῦ.

KJVWhom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.

JPSWhom shall one teach knowledge? And whom shall one make to understand the message? Them that are weaned from the milk, Them that are drawn from the breasts?

ThomsonExpect affliction on affliction; hope on hope, yet a little while—yet a little while.

BrentonExpect thou affliction on affliction, hope upon hope: yet a little, and yet a little,

GreekΘλίψιν ἐπὶ θλίψιν προσδέχου, ἐλπίδα ἐπʼ ἐλπίδι, ἐτι μικρὸν ἔτι μικρόν,

KJVFor precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

JPS—

ThomsonOn account of the mockery of their lips—because they will speak to this people with a strange tongue, saying to them,

Brentonby reason of the contemptuous words of the lips, by means of another language: for they shall speak to this people, saying to them,

Greekδιὰ φαυλισμὸν χειλέων, διὰ γλώσσης ἑτέρας, ὅτι λαλήσουσι τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ,

KJVFor with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.

JPSFor with stammering lips and with a strange tongue Shall it be spoken to this people;

ThomsonThis is the rest for him who is hungry: and this is the destruction, but they would not hear.

BrentonThis is the rest to him that is hungry, and this is the calamity: but they would not hear.

Greekλέγοντες αὐτοῖς, τοῦτο τὸ ἀνάπαυμα τῷ πεινῶντι, καὶ τοῦτο τὸ σύντριμμα· καὶ οὐκ ἠθέλησαν ἀκούειν.

KJVTo whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

JPSTo whom it was said: ‘This is the rest, Give ye rest to the weary; And this is the refreshing’; Yet they would not hear.

ThomsonTherefore the oracle of God will be to them: Affliction on affliction; hope on hope, yet a little while, yet a little while, that they may proceed on and fall backwards; and they shall be broken and snared and caught.

BrentonTherefore the oracle of God shall be to them affliction on affliction, hope on hope, yet a little, and yet a little, that they may go and fall backward; and they shall be crushed and shall be in danger, and shall be taken.

GreekΚαὶ ἔσται αὐτοῖς τὸ λόγιον τοῦ Θεοῦ, θλίψις ἐπὶ θλίψιν, ἐλπὶς ἐπʼ ἐλπίδι, ἔτι μικρὸν ἔτι μικρὸν, ἵνα πορεύσωσι καὶ πέσωσιν ὀπίσω· καὶ συντριβήσονται, καὶ κινδυνεύσουσι, καὶ ἁλώσονται.

KJVBut the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

JPSAnd so the word of the LORD is unto them Precept by precept, precept by precept, Line by line, line by line; Here a little, there a little; That they may go, and fall backward, and be broken, And snared, and taken.

ThomsonTherefore hear the word of the Lord, ye afflicted men, and ye rulers of this people in Jerusalem!

BrentonTherefore hear ye the word of the Lord, ye afflicted men, and ye princes of this people that is in Jerusalem.

GreekΔιατοῦτο ἀκούσατε λόγον Κυρίου ἄνδρες τεθλιμμένοι, καὶ οἱ ἄρχοντες τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου τοῦ ἐν Ἰερουσαλήμ·

KJVWherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.

JPSWherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scoffers, The ballad-mongers of this people which is in Jerusalem:

ThomsonBecause you said, We have made a covenant with death: and with the grave we have made a treaty: though the furious tempest may pass through, it will by no means reach us. We have made falsehood our refuge and by this falsehood we shall be saved,—

BrentonBecause ye have said, We have made a covenant with Hades, and agreements with death; if the rushing storm should pass, it shall not come upon us: we have made falsehood our hope, and by falsehood shall we be protected:

GreekὍτι εἴπατε, ἐποιήσαμεν διαθήκην μετὰ τοῦ ᾅδου, καὶ μετὰ τοῦ θανάτου συνθήκας· καταιγὶς φερομένη ἐὰν παρέλθῃ, οὐ μὴ ἔλθῃ ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς· ἐθήκαμεν ψεῦδος τὴν ἐλπίδα ἡμῶν, καὶ τῷ ψεύδει σκεπασθησόμεθα.

KJVBecause ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:

JPSBecause ye have said: ‘We have made a covenant with death, And with the nether-world are we at agreement; When the scouring scourge shall pass through, It shall not come unto us; For we have made lies our refuge, And in falsehood have we hid ourselves’;

Thomsontherefore thus saith the Sovereign Lord: Behold I lay for the foundation of Sion a stone of inestimable worth—a chosen, precious corner stone for the foundations of it, and he who believeth shall not be ashamed.

Brentontherefore thus saith the Lord, even the Lord, Behold, I lay for the foundations of Sion a costly stone, a choice, a corner-stone, a precious stone, for its foundations; and he that believes on him shall by no means be ashamed.

GreekΔιατοῦτο οὕτω λέγει κύριος Κύριος, Ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἐμβάλλω εἰς τὰ θεμέλια Σιὼν λίθον πολυτελῆ, ἐκλεκτὸν, ἀκρογωνιαῖον, ἔντιμον, εἰς τὰ θεμέλια αὐτῆς, καὶ ὁ πιστεύων οὐ μὴ καταισχυνθῇ.

KJVTherefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

JPSTherefore thus saith the Lord GOD: Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, A tried stone, a costly corner-stone of sure foundation; He that believeth shall not make haste.

ThomsonAnd I will establish judgment for hope, and My mercy shall be for scales. But as for you who have vainly trusted in falsehood, that the tempest would not reach you;

BrentonAnd I will cause judgment to be for hope, and my compassion shall be for just measures, and ye that trust vainly in falsehood shall fall: for the storm shall by no means pass by you,

GreekΚαὶ θήσω κρίσιν εἰς ἐλπίδα, ἡ δὲ ἐλεημοσύνη μου εἰς σταθμούς, καὶ οἱ πεποιθότες μάτην ψεύδει· ὅτι οὐ μὴ παρέλθῃ ὑμᾶς καταιγίς,

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson—

Brentonexcept it also take away your covenant of death, and your trust in Hades shall by no means stand: if the rushing storm should come upon you, ye shall be beaten down by it.

Greekμὴ καὶ ἀφέλῃ ὑμῶν τὴν διαθήκην τοῦ θανάτου, καὶ ἡ ἐλπὶς ὑμῶν ἡ πρὸς τὸν ᾅδην οὐ μὴ ἐμμείνῃ· καταιγὶς φερομένη ἐὰν ἐπέλθῃ, ἔσεσθε αὐτῇ εἰς καταπάτημα.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonWhen it cometh it will overtake you. Early, very early in the morning it will come, and at night your hope will be wretched.

BrentonWhenever it shall pass by, it shall take you; morning by morning it shall pass by in the day, and in the night there shall be an evil hope. Learn to hear,

GreekὍταν παρέλθῃ, λήμψεται ὑμᾶς, πρωῒ πρωῒ παρελεύσεται ἡμέρας, καὶ ἐν νυκτὶ ἔσται ἐλπὶς πονηρά.

KJVFrom the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report.

JPSAs often as it passeth through, it shall take you; For morning by morning shall it pass through, By day and by night; And it shall be sheer terror to understand the message.

ThomsonLearn to hear: We are straitened for room, we cannot fight. We are weakened by Your pressing upon us.

Brentonye that are distressed; we cannot fight, but we are ourselves too weak for you to be gathered.

GreekΜάθετε ἀκούειν στενοχωρούμενοι· Οὐ δυνάμεθα μάχεσθαι, αὐτοὶ δὲ ἀσθενοῦμεν τοῦ ὑμᾶς συναχθῆναι.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonLike a mountain of wicked men the Lord will rise up; and He will be in the valley of Gabaon. With wrath He will execute His work—a work of bitterness; and His wrath will attack in a strange manner; and its severity will be unusual.

BrentonThe Lord shall rise up as a mountain of ungodly men, and shall be in the valley of Gabaon; he shall perform his works with wrath, even a work of bitterness, and his wrath shall deal strangely, and his destruction shall be strange.

GreekὭσπερ ὄρος ἀσεβῶν ἀναστήσεται Κύριος, καὶ ἔσται ἐν τῇ φάραγγι Γαβαὼν, μετὰ θυμοῦ ποιήσει τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ, πικρίας ἔργον· ὁ δὲ θυμὸς αὐτοῦ ἀλλοτρίως χρήσεται, καὶ ἡ σαπρία αὐτοῦ ἀλλοτρία.

KJVFor the LORD shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act.

JPSFor the LORD will rise up as in mount Perazim, He will be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon; That He may do His work, strange is His work, And bring to pass His act, strange is His act.

ThomsonAs for you therefore, be not filled with joy, yet let not your bonds gather strength. For the things are complete and decisive which I have heard from the Lord of Hosts—which He will execute on all this land.

BrentonTherefore do not ye rejoice, neither let your bands be made strong; for I have heard of works finished and cut short by the Lord of hosts, which he will execute upon all the earth.

GreekΚαὶ ὑμεῖς μὴ εὐφρανθείητε, μηδὲ ἰσχυσάτωσαν ὑμῶν οἱ δεσμοί· διότι συντετελεσμένα καὶ συντετμημένα πράγματα ἤκουσα παρὰ Κυρίου σαβαὼθ, ἃ ποιήσει ἐπὶ πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν.

KJVNow therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth.

JPSNow therefore be ye not scoffers, Lest your bands be made strong; For an extermination wholly determined have I heard from the Lord, the GOD of hosts, Upon the whole land.

ThomsonListen and hear my voice; attend and hearken to these words of mine.

BrentonHearken, and hear my voice; attend, and hear my words.

GreekἘνωτίζεσθε καὶ ἀκούετε τῆς φωνῆς μου, προσέχετε καὶ ἀκούετε τοὺς λόγους μου.

KJVGive ye ear, and hear my voice; hearken, and hear my speech.

JPSGive ye ear, and hear my voice; attend, and hear my speech.

ThomsonWill the ploughman plough the whole day? Or prepare seed before he hath tilled the ground?

BrentonWill the ploughman plough all the day? or will he prepare the seed beforehand, before he tills the ground?

GreekΜὴ ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν ἀροτριάσει ὁ ἀροτριῶν; ἢ σπόρον προετοιμάσει, πρὶν ἐργάσασθαι τὴν γῆν;

KJVDoth the plowman plow all day to sow? doth he open and break the clods of his ground?

JPS—

ThomsonDoth he not, when he hath levelled the face of the soil, then sow the small dill or cummin? and again sow wheat and barley and millet and rye in all thy borders?

BrentonDoes he not, when he has levelled the surface thereof, then sow the small black poppy, or cumin, and afterward sow wheat, and barley, and millet, and bread-corn in thy borders?

GreekΟὐχ ὅταν ὁμαλίσῃ τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτῆς, τότε σπείρει μικρὸν μελάνθιον ἢ κύμινον, καὶ πάλιν σπείρει πυρὸν, καὶ κριθὴν, καὶ κέγχρον καὶ ζέαν ἐν τοῖς ὁρίοις σου;

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonSo thou shalt be corrected by the judgment of God; and be made glad.

BrentonSo thou shalt be chastened by the judgment of thy God, and shalt rejoice.

GreekΚαὶ παιδευθήσῃ κρίματι Θεοῦ σου, καὶ εὐφρανθήσῃ.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson—

BrentonFor the black poppy is not cleansed with harsh treatment, nor will a waggon-wheel pass over the cumin; but the black poppy is threshed with a rod, and the cumin shall be eaten with bread;

GreekΟὐ γὰρ μετὰ σκληρότητος καθαίρεται τὸ μελάνθιον, οὐδὲ τροχὸς ἁμάξης περιάξει ἐπὶ τὸ κύμινον· ἀλλὰ ῥάβδῳ τινάσσεται τὸ μελάνθιον, τὸ δὲ κύμινον

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson—

Brentonfor I will not be wroth with you for ever, neither shall the voice of my anger crush you.

Greekμετὰ ἄρτου βρωθήσεται· οὐ γὰρ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ἐγώ εἰμι ὑμῖν ὀργισθήσομαι, οὐδὲ φωνὴ τῆς πικρίας μου καταπατήσει ὑμᾶς.

KJV—

JPSIs bread corn crushed? Nay, he will not ever be threshing it; And though the roller of his wagon and its sharp edges move noisily, He doth not crush it.

Thomson(J) Yet with bread they will be eaten. For I, The I Am, will not be angry with you forever, nor shall the voice of My severity destroy you. These wonders have indeed proceeded from the Lord of Hosts.

BrentonAnd these signs came forth from the Lord of hosts. Take counsel, exalt vain comfort.

GreekΚαὶ ταῦτα παρὰ Κυρίου σαβαὼθ ἐξῆλθε τὰ τέρατα· βουλεύσασθε, ὑψώσατε ματαίαν παράκλησιν.

KJVThis also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.

JPSThis also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts: Wonderful is His counsel, and great His wisdom.