^{14 Ref} Wherefore hear the word of Jehovah, ye scoffers, that rule this people that is in Jerusalem:

^{15 Ref} Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol 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:

^{16 Ref} therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner -`stone' of sure foundation: he that believeth shall not be in haste.

^{17 Ref} And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plummet; and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding-place.

^{18 Ref} And your covenant with death shall be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.

^{19 Ref} As often as it passeth though, it shall take you; for morning by morning shall it pass through, by day and by night: and it shall be nought but terror to understand the message.

^{20 Ref} For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it; and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.

^{21 Ref} For Jehovah will rise up as in mount Perazim, he will be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon; that he may do his work, his strange work, and bring to pass his act, his strange act.

^{22 Ref} Now therefore be ye not scoffers, lest your bonds be made strong; for a decree of destruction have I heard from the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, upon the whole earth.

^{23 Ref} Give ye ear, and hear my voice; hearken, and hear my speech.

^{24 Ref} Doth he that ploweth to sow plow continually? doth he `continually' open and harrow his ground?

^{25 Ref} When he hath levelled the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and put in the wheat in rows, and the barley in the appointed place, and the spelt in the border thereof?

^{26 Ref} For his God doth instruct him aright, `and' doth teach him.

^{27 Ref} For the fitches are not threshed with a sharp `threshing' instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the fitches are beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod.

^{28 Ref} Bread `grain' is ground; for he will not be always threshing it: and though the wheel of his cart and his horses scatter it, he doth not grind it.

^{29 Ref} This also cometh forth from Jehovah of hosts, who is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in wisdom.