Woe to the Leaders of Ephraim and Judah

28 Woef to that wreath, the pride of Ephraim’sg drunkards,

to the fading flower, his glorious beauty,

set on the head of a fertile valleyh—

to that city, the pride of those laid low by wine!i

2 See, the Lord has one who is powerfulj and strong.

Like a hailstormk and a destructive wind,l

like a driving rain and a floodingm downpour,

he will throw it forcefully to the ground.

3 That wreath, the pride of Ephraim’sn drunkards,

will be trampledo underfoot.

4 That fading flower, his glorious beauty,

set on the head of a fertile valley,p

will be like figsq ripe before harvest—

as soon as people see them and take them in hand,

they swallow them.

5 In that dayr the Lord Almighty

will be a gloriouss crown,t

a beautiful wreath

for the remnantu of his people.

6 He will be a spirit of justicev

to the one who sits in judgment,w

a source of strength

to those who turn back the battlex at the gate.

7 And these also staggery from winez

and reela from beer:

Priestsb and prophetsc stagger from beer

and are befuddled with wine;

they reel from beer,

they stagger when seeing visions,d

they stumble when rendering decisions.

8 All the tables are covered with vomite

and there is not a spot without filth.