--- title: "Commentary on Isaiah, Volume 2" author: "John Calvin" translator: "William Pringle" languages: [en] shelf: "Commentaries" section: 58 of 62 url: https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-isaiah-volume-2/58/ cite: "John Calvin, tr. William Pringle, Commentary on Isaiah, Volume 2, section 58. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-isaiah-volume-2/58/" --- # Commentary on Isaiah, Volume 2 *John Calvin, tr. William Pringle* Calvin on the prophet Isaiah, volume 2 of 4. ## 58. Chapter 28 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-isaiah-volume-2/58/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-isaiah-volume-2/58/#p-N [¶0] 1 Wo to the crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim; For the splendour of his glory shall be a fading flower, Which is on the head of the valley of the fat ones, Of them that are overcome by wine. [¶1] 2 Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one; As a deluge of hail, A desolating whirlwind; As the violence of mighty waters overflowing, Casting down to the earth with the hand. [¶2] 3 The crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim Shall be trodden under feet. [¶3] 4 And the splendour of his glory shall be a fading flower, Which is on the head of the valley of the fat ones; Like the premature fig before the summer, Which, while he looketh at it, While it is yet in his hand, He that seeth it devoureth. [¶4] 5 In that day will Jehovah of hosts Become a crown of glory And a diadem of excellence To the remnant of his people, [¶5] 6 And a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth on the judgment-seat, And strength to them that drive back the battle to the gate. [¶6] 7 But they also have erred through wine; Through strong drink they have gone astray. The priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink; They have been swallowed up by wine; They have gone astray through strong drink; They have erred in vision, They have stumbled in judgment. [¶7] 8 For all tables are full of nauseous vomiting, So that no place is unoccupied. [¶8] 9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? And whom shall he make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk? Them that are withdrawn from the breasts? [¶9] 10 For precept must be on precept, precept on precept; Instruction on instruction, instruction on instruction; Here a little, there a little. [¶10] 11 For with stammering lips will he speak to this people, And with a foreign tongue. [¶11] 12 For he said to them, This is the rest; Cause the weary to rest; And this is the refreshing; And they refused to hear. [¶12] 13 The word of Jehovah shall therefore be to them Rule upon rule, rule upon rule; Instruction upon instruction, instruction upon instruction; Here a little, there a little; Therefore they shall go, and shall fall backward, Shall be broken, and snared, and taken. [¶13] 14 Therefore hear the word of Jehovah, ye scornful men, Who govern this people, which is in Jerusalem. [¶14] 15 Because ye have said, We have struck a league with death, And with hell have we made a compact; When the overflowing scourge shall pass through, It shall not come to us; For we have made falsehood our refuge, And under vanity have we hidden ourselves. [¶15] 16 Wherefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I will lay in Zion a stone, a stone of trial, A precious corner-stone, a sure foundation. He that believeth shall not make haste. [¶16] 17 And I will lay judgment to the line, And righteousness to the measure. The hail shall sweep away the reliance of falsehood, And the waters shall overflow the hiding-place. [¶17] 18 And your compact with death shall be disannulled; Your agreement with hell shall not stand; When the overflowing scourge shall pass through, Then shall ye become a treading down to it. [¶18] 19 From the time that it shall pass, It shall seize you every morning, And shall pass every day by day and by night; And it shall be that terror alone Shall cause them to understand the report. [¶19] 20 For the bed is short, so that it is not enough; The covering shall be narrow for wrapping, [¶20] 21 For as in Mount Perazim will Jehovah stand up, And as in the valley of Gibeon will he be angry; To do his work, his strange work; To perform his act, his strange act. [¶21] 22 Now therefore be ye not mockers, Lest your chains be more firmly fastened; For I have heard from the Lord Jehovah of hosts a consumption, And a completion on the whole earth. [¶22] 23 Listen ye, and hear my voice; Hearken, and hear my speech. [¶23] 24 Doth the ploughman plough every day, that he may sow? Doth he open and break the clods of his field? [¶24] 25 When he hath leveled its surface, Will he not then scatter fitches, and sow cummin, And allot wheat in measure, and barley measured, And spelt in its order? [¶25] 26 His God instructeth him, And teacheth him what is right. [¶26] 27 Certainly vetches shall not be thrashed with a toothed instrument, Nor shall the wheel of a cart be turned round on the cummin; For vetches are beaten with a staff, And cummin with a rod. [¶27] 28 Though wheat be bruised, He doth not bruise it continually, Nor always cause the wheel of his cart to grind it, Lest he crush it with its teeth. [¶28] 29 This also hath proceeded from Jehovah of hosts, Who is wonderful in counsel, And majestic in procedure.