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At that time[a] the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will become a beautiful crown
and a splendid diadem for the remnant of his people.
He will give discernment to the one who makes judicial decisions,
and strength to those who defend the city from attackers.[b]
Even these men[c] stagger because of wine;
they stumble around because of beer—
priests and prophets stagger because of beer,
they are confused[d] because of wine,
they stumble around because of beer;
they stagger while seeing prophetic visions,[e]
they totter while making legal decisions.[f]

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 28:5 tn Or “in that day” (KJV).
  2. Isaiah 28:6 tn Heb “and [he will become] a spirit of justice for the one who sits [i.e., presides] over judgment, // and strength [for] the ones who turn back battle at the city gate.” The Lord will provide internal stability and national security.
  3. Isaiah 28:7 tn Heb “these.” The demonstrative pronoun anticipates “priests and prophets” two lines later.
  4. Isaiah 28:7 tn According to HALOT 135 s.v. III בלע, the verb form is derived from בָּלַע (balaʿ, “confuse”), not the more common בָּלַע (“swallow”). See earlier notes at 3:12 and 9:16.
  5. Isaiah 28:7 tn Heb “in the seeing.”
  6. Isaiah 28:7 tn Heb “[in] giving a decision.”

In that day(A) the Lord Almighty
    will be a glorious(B) crown,(C)
a beautiful wreath
    for the remnant(D) of his people.
He will be a spirit of justice(E)
    to the one who sits in judgment,(F)
a source of strength
    to those who turn back the battle(G) at the gate.

And these also stagger(H) from wine(I)
    and reel(J) from beer:
Priests(K) and prophets(L) stagger from beer
    and are befuddled with wine;
they reel from beer,
    they stagger when seeing visions,(M)
    they stumble when rendering decisions.

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