Isaiah 28:15–18

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^28:15For you say,

“We have made a treaty with death,

with Sheol³⁰ we have made an agreement.³¹

When the overwhelming judgment sweeps by³²

it will not reach us.

For we have made a lie our refuge,

we have hidden ourselves in a deceitful word.”³³

^28:16Therefore, this is what the sovereign master, the Lord, says:

“Look, I am laying³⁴ a stone in Zion,

an approved³⁵ stone,

set in place as a precious cornerstone for the foundation.³⁶

The one who maintains his faith will not panic.³⁷

^28:17I will make justice the measuring line,

fairness the plumb line;

hail will sweep away the unreliable refuge,³⁸

the floodwaters will overwhelm the hiding place.

^28:18Your treaty with death will be dissolved;³⁹

your agreement⁴⁰ with Sheol will not last.⁴¹

When the overwhelming judgment sweeps by,⁴²

you will be overrun by it.⁴³

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Footnotes

30 Sheol is the underworld, land of the dead, according to the OT world view.
31 Elsewhere the noun חֹזֶה (khozeh) refers to a prophet who sees visions. In v. 18 the related term חָזוּת (khazut, “vision”) is used. The parallelism in both verses (note “treaty”) seems to demand a meaning “agreement” for both nouns. Perhaps חֹזֶה and חזוּת are used in a metonymic sense in vv. 15 and 18. Another option is to propose a homonymic root. See J. N. Oswalt, Isaiah (), 1:, and II חֹזֶה.
32 Heb “the overwhelming scourge, when it passes by” ( similar).
33 “Lie” and “deceitful word” would not be the terms used by the people. They would likely use the words “promise” and “reliable word,” but the prophet substitutes “lie” and “deceitful word” to emphasize that this treaty with death will really prove to be disappointing.
34 The Hebrew text has a third person verb form, which does not agree with the first person suffix that precedes. The form should be emended to יֹסֵד (yosed), a Qal active participle used in a present progressive or imminent future sense.
35 Traditionally “tested,” but the implication is that it has passed the test and stands approved.
36 The reality behind the metaphor is not entirely clear from the context. The stone appears to represent someone or something that gives Zion stability. Perhaps the ideal Davidic ruler is in view (see 32:1). Another option is that the image of beginning a building project by laying a precious cornerstone suggests that God is about to transform Zion through judgment and begin a new covenant community that will experience his protection (see 4:3–6; 31:5; 33:20–24; 35:10).
37 Heb “will not hurry,” i.e., act in panic.
38 Heb “[the] refuge, [the] lie.” See v. 15.
39 On the meaning of כָּפַר (kafar) in this context, see I כפר and J. N. Oswalt, Isaiah (), 1:, n. 9.
40 Normally the noun חָזוּת (khazut) means “vision.” See the note at v. .
41 Or “will not stand” (, ).
42 See the note at v. .
43 Heb “you will become a trampling place for it.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death,

and with Sheol we have an agreement,

when the overwhelming whip passes through

it will not come to us,

for we have made lies our refuge,

and in falsehood we have taken shelter”;

therefore thus says the Lord God,

“Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion,

a stone, a tested stone,

a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation:

‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’

And I will make justice the line,

and righteousness the plumb line;

and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies,

and waters will overwhelm the shelter.”

Then your covenant with death will be annulled,

and your agreement with Sheol will not stand;

when the overwhelming scourge passes through,

you will be beaten down by it.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

You boast, “We have entered into a covenant with death,

with the realm of the dead we have made an agreement.

When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by,

it cannot touch us,

for we have made a lie our refuge

and falsehood our hiding place.”

So this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone,

a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;

the one who relies on it

will never be stricken with panic.

I will make justice the measuring line

and righteousness the plumb line;

hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie,

and water will overflow your hiding place.

Your covenant with death will be annulled;

your agreement with the realm of the dead will not stand.

When the overwhelming scourge sweeps by,

you will be beaten down by it.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

For you said, “We have made a covenant with Death,

and we have an agreement with Sheol;

when the overwhelming catastrophe passes through,

it will not touch us,

because we have made falsehood our refuge

and have hidden behind treachery.”

Therefore the Lord God said:

“Look, I have laid a stone in Zion,

a tested stone,

a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation;

the one who believes will be unshakable.

And I will make justice the measuring line

and righteousness the mason’s level.”

Hail will sweep away the false refuge,

and water will flood your hiding place.

Your covenant with Death will be dissolved,

and your agreement with Sheol will not last.

When the overwhelming catastrophe passes through,

you will be trampled.

NLTNew Living Translation

You boast, “We have struck a bargain to cheat death

and have made a deal to dodge the grave.

The coming destruction can never touch us,

for we have built a strong refuge made of lies and deception.”

Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem,

a firm and tested stone.

It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on.

Whoever believes need never be shaken.

I will test you with the measuring line of justice

and the plumb line of righteousness.

Since your refuge is made of lies,

a hailstorm will knock it down.

Since it is made of deception,

a flood will sweep it away.

I will cancel the bargain you made to cheat death,

and I will overturn your deal to dodge the grave.

When the terrible enemy sweeps through,

you will be trampled into the ground.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Because you have said,

“We have made 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 our refuge,

and we have hidden ourselves in falsehood.”

Therefore the Lord Yahweh says this:

“Look! I am laying a stone in Zion,

a tested stone,

a precious cornerstone,

a founded foundation:

‘The one who trusts will not panic.’

And I will make justice the measuring line,

and righteousness the plumb line;

and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies,

and waters will flood over the hiding place.

And 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.

KJV 1900King James Version

Because 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:

Therefore 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.

Judgment 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.

And 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.

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