יְשַׁעְיָהוּ

Isaiah — Chapter 28

Read Isaiah Chapter 28 in Biblical Hebrew alongside the King James Version (KJV) — 29 verses. Original Hebrew text with vowel points (nikud) and full English translation.

ה֗וֹי עֲטֶ֤רֶת גֵּאוּת֙ שִׁכֹּרֵ֣י אֶפְרַ֔יִם וְצִ֥יץ נֹבֵ֖ל צְבִ֣י תִפְאַרְתּ֑וֹ אֲשֶׁ֛ר עַל־רֹ֥אשׁ גֵּֽיא־שְׁמָנִ֖ים הֲל֥וּמֵי יָֽיִן׃

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! {overcome: Heb. broken}

Woe 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 fertile valley of those who are overcome with wine!

הִנֵּ֨ה חָזָ֤ק וְאַמִּץ֙ לַֽאדֹנָ֔י כְּזֶ֥רֶם בָּרָ֖ד שַׂ֣עַר קָ֑טֶב כְּ֠זֶרֶם מַ֣יִם כַּבִּירִ֥ים שֹׁטְפִ֛ים הִנִּ֥יחַ לָאָ֖רֶץ בְּיָֽד׃

KJVBehold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, {which} as a tempest of hail {and} a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand.

Behold, the Lord has a mighty and strong one. Like a storm of hail, a destroying storm, and like a storm of mighty waters overflowing, he will cast them down to the earth with his hand.

בְּרַגְלַ֖יִם תֵּֽרָמַ֑סְנָה עֲטֶ֥רֶת גֵּא֖וּת שִׁכּוֹרֵ֥י אֶפְרָֽיִם׃

KJVThe crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet: {under...: Heb. with feet}

The crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim will be trodden under foot.

וְֽהָ֨יְתָ֜ה צִיצַ֤ת נֹבֵל֙ צְבִ֣י תִפְאַרְתּ֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר עַל־רֹ֖אשׁ גֵּ֣יא שְׁמָנִ֑ים כְּבִכּוּרָהּ֙ בְּטֶ֣רֶם קַ֔יִץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִרְאֶ֤ה הָֽרֹאֶה֙ אוֹתָ֔הּ בְּעוֹדָ֥הּ בְּכַפּ֖וֹ יִבְלָעֶֽנָּה׃

KJVAnd the glorious beauty, which {is} on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, {and} as the hasty fruit before the summer; which {when} he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up. {eateth: Heb. swalloweth}

The fading flower of his glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fertile valley, shall be like the first-ripe fig before the summer; which someone picks and eats as soon as he sees it.

בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא יִֽהְיֶה֙ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת לַעֲטֶ֣רֶת צְבִ֔י וְלִצְפִירַ֖ת תִּפְאָרָ֑ה לִשְׁאָ֖ר עַמּֽוֹ׃

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,

In that day, Yahweh of Armies will become a crown of glory, and a diadem of beauty, to the residue of his people;

וּלְר֖וּחַ מִשְׁפָּ֑ט לַיּוֹשֵׁב֙ עַל־הַמִּשְׁפָּ֔ט וְלִ֨גְבוּרָ֔ה מְשִׁיבֵ֥י מִלְחָמָ֖ה שָֽׁעְרָה׃

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

and a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.

וְגַם־אֵ֙לֶּה֙ בַּיַּ֣יִן שָׁג֔וּ וּבַשֵּׁכָ֖ר תָּע֑וּ כֹּהֵ֣ן וְנָבִיא֩ שָׁג֨וּ בַשֵּׁכָ֜ר נִבְלְע֣וּ מִן־הַיַּ֗יִן תָּעוּ֙ מִן־הַשֵּׁכָ֔ר שָׁגוּ֙ בָּֽרֹאֶ֔ה פָּק֖וּ פְּלִילִיָּֽה׃

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.

They also reel with wine, and stagger with strong drink. The priest and the prophet reel with strong drink. They are swallowed up by wine. They stagger with strong drink. They err in vision. They stumble in judgment.

כִּ֚י כָּל־שֻׁלְחָנ֔וֹת מָלְא֖וּ קִ֣יא צֹאָ֑ה בְּלִ֖י מָקֽוֹם׃

KJVFor all tables are full of vomit {and} filthiness, {so that there is} no place {clean}.

For all tables are completely full of filthy vomit and filthiness.

אֶת־מִי֙ יוֹרֶ֣ה דֵעָ֔ה וְאֶת־מִ֖י יָבִ֣ין שְׁמוּעָ֑ה גְּמוּלֵי֙ מֵֽחָלָ֔ב עַתִּיקֵ֖י מִשָּׁדָֽיִם׃

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. {doctrine: Heb. the hearing?}

Whom will he teach knowledge? To whom will he explain the message? Those who are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts?

כִּ֣י צַ֤ו לָצָו֙ צַ֣ו לָצָ֔ו קַ֥ו לָקָ֖ו קַ֣ו לָקָ֑ו זְעֵ֥יר שָׁ֖ם זְעֵ֥יר שָֽׁם׃

KJVFor precept {must be} upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, {and} there a little: {must be: or, hath been}

For it is precept on precept, precept on precept; line on line, line on line; here a little, there a little.

כִּ֚י בְּלַעֲגֵ֣י שָׂפָ֔ה וּבְלָשׁ֖וֹן אַחֶ֑רֶת יְדַבֵּ֖ר אֶל־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּֽה׃

KJVFor with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. {stammering...: Heb. stammerings of lip} {will...: or, he hath spoken}

But he will speak to this nation with stammering lips and in another language;

אֲשֶׁ֣ר ׀ אָמַ֣ר אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם זֹ֤את הַמְּנוּחָה֙ הָנִ֣יחוּ לֶֽעָיֵ֔ף וְזֹ֖את הַמַּרְגֵּעָ֑ה וְלֹ֥א אָב֖וּא שְׁמֽוֹעַ׃

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.

to whom he said, “This is the resting place. Give rest to weary”; and “This is the refreshing”; yet they would not hear.

וְהָיָ֨ה לָהֶ֜ם דְּבַר־יְהוָ֗ה צַ֣ו לָצָ֞ו צַ֤ו לָצָו֙ קַ֤ו לָקָו֙ קַ֣ו לָקָ֔ו זְעֵ֥יר שָׁ֖ם זְעֵ֣יר שָׁ֑ם לְמַ֨עַן יֵלְכ֜וּ וְכָשְׁל֤וּ אָחוֹר֙ וְנִשְׁבָּ֔רוּ וְנוֹקְשׁ֖וּ וְנִלְכָּֽדוּ׃

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.

Therefore Yahweh’s word will be to them precept on precept, precept on precept; line on line, line on line; here a little, there a little; that they may go, fall backward, be broken, be snared, and be taken.

לָכֵ֛ן שִׁמְע֥וּ דְבַר־יְהוָ֖ה אַנְשֵׁ֣י לָצ֑וֹן מֹֽשְׁלֵי֙ הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃

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

Therefore hear Yahweh’s word, you scoffers, that rule this people in Jerusalem:

כִּ֣י אֲמַרְתֶּ֗ם כָּרַ֤תְנֽוּ בְרִית֙ אֶת־מָ֔וֶת וְעִם־שְׁא֖וֹל עָשִׂ֣ינוּ חֹזֶ֑ה שיט שׁ֣וֹט שׁוֹטֵ֤ף כִּֽי־עבר יֽ͏ַעֲבֹר֙ לֹ֣א יְבוֹאֵ֔נוּ כִּ֣י שַׂ֧מְנוּ כָזָ֛ב מַחְסֵ֖נוּ וּבַשֶּׁ֥קֶר נִסְתָּֽרְנוּ׃

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:

“Because you have said, ‘We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol are we in agreement. When the overflowing scourge passes through, it won’t come to us; for we have made lies our refuge, and we have hidden ourselves under falsehood.’”

לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֔ה הִנְנִ֛י יִסַּ֥ד בְּצִיּ֖וֹן אָ֑בֶן אֶ֣בֶן בֹּ֜חַן פִּנַּ֤ת יִקְרַת֙ מוּסָ֣ד מוּסָּ֔ד הַֽמַּאֲמִ֖ין לֹ֥א יָחִֽישׁ׃

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.

Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh, “Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone of a sure foundation. He who believes shall not act hastily.

וְשַׂמְתִּ֤י מִשְׁפָּט֙ לְקָ֔ו וּצְדָקָ֖ה לְמִשְׁקָ֑לֶת וְיָעָ֤ה בָרָד֙ מַחְסֵ֣ה כָזָ֔ב וְסֵ֥תֶר מַ֖יִם יִשְׁטֹֽפוּ׃

KJVJudgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.

I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plumb line. The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters will overflow the hiding place.

וְכֻפַּ֤ר בְּרִֽיתְכֶם֙ אֶת־מָ֔וֶת וְחָזוּתְכֶ֥ם אֶת־שְׁא֖וֹל לֹ֣א תָק֑וּם שׁ֤וֹט שׁוֹטֵף֙ כִּ֣י יַֽעֲבֹ֔ר וִהְיִ֥יתֶם ל֖וֹ לְמִרְמָֽס׃

KJVAnd your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it. {trodden...: Heb. a treading down to it}

Your covenant with death shall be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol shall not stand. When the overflowing scourge passes through, then you will be trampled down by it.

מִדֵּ֤י עָבְרוֹ֙ יִקַּ֣ח אֶתְכֶ֔ם כִּֽי־בַבֹּ֧קֶר בַּבֹּ֛קֶר יַעֲבֹ֖ר בַּיּ֣וֹם וּבַלָּ֑יְלָה וְהָיָ֥ה רַק־זְוָעָ֖ה הָבִ֥ין שְׁמוּעָֽה׃

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. {to...: or, when he shall make you to understand doctrine}

As often as it passes through, it will seize you; for morning by morning it will pass through, by day and by night; and it will be nothing but terror to understand the message.”

כִּֽי־קָצַ֥ר הַמַּצָּ֖ע מֵֽהִשְׂתָּרֵ֑עַ וְהַמַּסֵּכָ֥ה צָ֖רָה כְּהִתְכַּנֵּֽס׃

KJVFor the bed is shorter than that {a man} can stretch himself {on it}: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself {in it}.

For the bed is too short to stretch out on, and the blanket is too narrow to wrap oneself in.

כִּ֤י כְהַר־פְּרָצִים֙ יָק֣וּם יְהוָ֔ה כְּעֵ֖מֶק בְּגִבְע֣וֹן יִרְגָּ֑ז לַעֲשׂ֤וֹת מַעֲשֵׂ֙הוּ֙ זָ֣ר מַעֲשֵׂ֔הוּ וְלַֽעֲבֹד֙ עֲבֹ֣דָת֔וֹ נָכְרִיָּ֖ה עֲבֹדָתֽוֹ׃

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.

For Yahweh will rise up as on Mount Perazim. He will be angry as in the valley of Gibeon; that he may do his work, his unusual work, and bring to pass his act, his extraordinary act.

וְעַתָּה֙ אַל־תִּתְלוֹצָ֔צוּ פֶּֽן־יֶחְזְק֖וּ מֽוֹסְרֵיכֶ֑ם כִּֽי־כָלָ֨ה וְנֶחֱרָצָ֜ה שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי מֵאֵ֨ת אֲדֹנָ֧י יְהוִ֛ה צְבָא֖וֹת עַל־כָּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃

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.

Now therefore don’t be scoffers, lest your bonds be made strong; for I have heard a decree of destruction from the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, on the whole earth.

הַאֲזִ֥ינוּ וְשִׁמְע֖וּ קוֹלִ֑י הַקְשִׁ֥יבוּ וְשִׁמְע֖וּ אִמְרָתִֽי׃

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

Give ear, and hear my voice! Listen, and hear my speech!

הֲכֹ֣ל הַיּ֔וֹם יַחֲרֹ֥שׁ הַחֹרֵ֖שׁ לִזְרֹ֑עַ יְפַתַּ֥ח וִֽישַׂדֵּ֖ד אַדְמָתֽוֹ׃

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

Does he who plows to sow plow continually? Does he keep turning the soil and breaking the clods?

הֲלוֹא֙ אִם־שִׁוָּ֣ה פָנֶ֔יהָ וְהֵפִ֥יץ קֶ֖צַח וְכַמֹּ֣ן יִזְרֹ֑ק וְשָׂ֨ם חִטָּ֤ה שׂוֹרָה֙ וּשְׂעֹרָ֣ה נִסְמָ֔ן וְכֻסֶּ֖מֶת גְּבֻלָתֽוֹ׃

KJVWhen he hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and cast in the principal wheat and the appointed barley and the rie in their place? {the principal...: or, the wheat in the principal place, and barley in the appointed place} {rie: or, spelt} {place: Heb. border?}

When he has leveled its surface, doesn’t he plant the dill, and scatter the cumin seed, and put in the wheat in rows, the barley in the appointed place, and the spelt in its place?

וְיִסְּר֥וֹ לַמִּשְׁפָּ֖ט אֱלֹהָ֥יו יוֹרֶֽנּוּ׃

KJVFor his God doth instruct him to discretion, {and} doth teach him. {For...: or, And he bindeth it in such sort as his God doth teach him}

For his God instructs him in right judgment, and teaches him.

כִּ֣י לֹ֤א בֶֽחָרוּץ֙ י֣וּדַשׁ קֶ֔צַח וְאוֹפַ֣ן עֲגָלָ֔ה עַל־כַּמֹּ֖ן יוּסָּ֑ב כִּ֧י בַמַּטֶּ֛ה יֵחָ֥בֶט קֶ֖צַח וְכַמֹּ֥ן בַּשָּֽׁבֶט׃

KJVFor the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the fitches are beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod.

For the dill are not threshed with a sharp instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned over the cumin; but the dill is beaten out with a stick, and the cumin with a rod.

לֶ֣חֶם יוּדָ֔ק כִּ֛י לֹ֥א לָנֶ֖צַח אָד֣וֹשׁ יְדוּשֶׁ֑נּוּ וְ֠הָמַם גִּלְגַּ֧ל עֶגְלָת֛וֹ וּפָרָשָׁ֖יו לֹֽא־יְדֻקֶּֽנּוּ׃

KJVBread {corn} is bruised; because he will not ever be threshing it, nor break {it with} the wheel of his cart, nor bruise it {with} his horsemen.

Bread flour must be ground; so he will not always be threshing it. Although he drives the wheel of his threshing cart over it, his horses don’t grind it.

גַּם־זֹ֕את מֵעִ֛ם יְהוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת יָצָ֑אָה הִפְלִ֣יא עֵצָ֔ה הִגְדִּ֖יל תּוּשִׁיָּֽה׃

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

This also comes out from Yahweh of Armies, who is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in wisdom.