Isaiah 28:5-15

5At that time. the Lord Almighty will be a great leader of his people. He will be like a beautiful crown for his people who still remain alive.

6He will help judges to decide what is right. He will give strength to the people who keep the city safe from those who attack it.

7But now wine causes the leaders in Ephraim to become drunk. They cannot walk in a straight line because they drink too much beer. Beer causes the priests and the prophets to fall over. Wine confuses their minds. When they see visions, they cannot understand them. When they judge people, they cannot decide what is right.

8They are sick over all their tables. Everywhere is covered with dirt.

9They say, ‘Why does the Lord try to teach us like that? Who does he think that we are? He speaks to us as if we are babies! He thinks that we have just left our mother's breast!

10He teaches us one rule at a time, one line at a time. He says it several times, a little bit here, a little bit there.’

11So now the Lord will use foreign enemies to speak to these people. He will speak to them in a strange language.

12In the past, he said to them, ‘This is a place where you can rest when you are tired. It is a place where you can be safe.’ But his people refused to listen.

13So the Lord's message will seem to them like, ‘One rule at a time, one line at a time, a little bit here, a little bit there.’ So as they try to move forward, they will fall over. An enemy will hurt them, and he will catch them in a trap.

14So listen to the Lord's message, you leaders in Jerusalem who rule these people. Do not laugh at what the Lord is doing.

15You boast, ‘We have made a covenant with death. Yes, we have made an agreement with Sheol. When trouble comes to our city like a deep flood of water, we will be safe. We trust in our lies to keep us safe.’