Isaiah 28:7–12

⁷Israel’s leaders are drunk from wine.

They can’t walk straight.

They are drunk from beer.

They are unsteady on their feet.

Priests and prophets drink beer.

They can’t walk straight.

They are mixed up from drinking too much wine.

They drink too much beer.

They are unsteady on their feet.

The prophets see visions but don’t really understand them.

The priests aren’t able to make good decisions.

⁸They throw up. All of the tables are covered

with the mess they’ve made.

There isn’t one spot on the tables

that isn’t smelly and dirty.

⁹My people are making fun of me. They say,

“Who does he think he’s trying to teach?

Who does he think he’s explaining his message to?

Is it to children who do not need their mother’s milk anymore?

Is it to those who have just been taken from her breast?

¹⁰Here is how he teaches.

Do this and do that.

Do that and do this.

Obey this rule and obey that rule.

Obey that rule and obey this rule.

Learn a little here and learn a little there.”

¹¹All right then, these people won’t listen to me.

So God will speak to them.

He will speak by using people who speak unfamiliar languages.

He will speak by using the mouths of strangers.

¹²He said to his people,

“I am offering you a resting place.

Let those who are tired rest.”

He continued, “I am offering you a place of peace and quiet.”

But they wouldn’t listen.