Isaiah 28:14–22

The Cornerstone of Zion

¹⁴Therefore hear the word of Yahweh, men of mockery,

rulers of these people in Jerusalem:

¹⁵Because you have said,

“We have made^l a covenant with death,

and we have made an agreement with Sheol.

The overwhelming flood, when it passes through, will not come to us,

for we have made lies^m our refuge,

and we have hidden ourselves in falsehood.”

¹⁶Therefore the Lord Yahweh says this:

“Look! I am laying a stone in Zion,

a testedⁿ stone,

a precious cornerstone,

a founded foundation:

‘The one who trusts will not panic.’^o

¹⁷And I will make justice the measuring line,

and righteousness the plumb line;

and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies,^p

and waters will flood over the hiding place.

¹⁸And your covenant with death will be annulled,

and your agreement with Sheol will not stand;

you will become a trampling place for the overwhelming flood when it passes through.

¹⁹As often as it passes through,^q it will take you,

for morning by morning^r it will pass through,

in the day and in the night,

and understanding the message will be only terror.”

²⁰For the bed is too short to stretch out on,^s

and the covering is too narrow when wrapping oneself.

²¹For Yahweh will rise up as at Mount Perazim;

he will rave as in the valley at Gibeon

to do his deed—his deed is strange—

and to work his work—his work is alien!

²²And now you must not scoff,

or your bonds will be strong,

for I have heard from the Lord, Yahweh of hosts:

complete destruction

decreed upon all the land.