以賽亞書28:1-14

28:1 禍哉！以法蓮的酒徒，住在肥美谷的山上，他們心裡高傲，以所誇的為冠冕，猶如將殘之花。
28:2 看哪，主有一大能大力者，像一陣冰雹，像毀滅的暴風，像漲溢的大水，他必用手將冠冕摔落於地。
28:3 以法蓮高傲的酒徒，他的冠冕必被踏在腳下。
28:4 那榮美將殘之花，就是在肥美谷山上的，必像夏令以前初熟的無花果；看見這果的就注意，一到手中就吞吃了。
28:5 到那日，萬軍之耶和華必作他餘剩之民的榮冠華冕，
28:6 也作了在位上行審判者公平之靈，並城門口打退仇敵者的力量。
28:7 就是這地的人也因酒搖搖晃晃，因濃酒東倒西歪。祭司和先知因濃酒搖搖晃晃，被酒所困，因濃酒東倒西歪。他們錯解默示，謬行審判。
28:8 因為各席上滿了嘔吐的污穢，無一處乾淨。
28:9 譏誚先知的說：他要將知識指教誰呢？要使誰明白傳言呢？是那剛斷奶離懷的嗎？
28:10 他竟命上加命，令上加令，律上加律，例上加例，這裡一點，那裡一點。
28:11 先知說：不然，主要藉異邦人的嘴唇和外邦人的舌頭對這百姓說話。
28:12 他曾對他們說：你們要使疲乏人得安息，這樣才得安息，才得舒暢，他們卻不肯聽。
28:13 所以，耶和華向他們說的話是命上加命，令上加令，律上加律，例上加例，這裡一點，那裡一點，以致他們前行仰面跌倒，而且跌碎，並陷入網羅被纏住。
28:14 所以，你們這些褻慢的人，就是轄管住在耶路撒冷這百姓的，要聽耶和華的話。

Ah, the proud garland of the drunkards of Ephraim,

and the fading flower of its glorious beauty,

which is on the head of those bloated with rich food, of those overcome with wine!

2

See, the Lord has one who is mighty and strong;

like a storm of hail, a destroying tempest,

like a storm of mighty, overflowing waters;

with his hand he will hurl them down to the earth.

3

Trampled under foot will be

the proud garland of the drunkards of Ephraim.

4

And the fading flower of its glorious beauty,

which is on the head of those bloated with rich food,

will be like a first-ripe fig before the summer;

whoever sees it, eats it up

as soon as it comes to hand.

5

In that day the Lord of hosts will be a garland of glory,

and a diadem of beauty, to the remnant of his people;

6

and a spirit of justice to the one who sits in judgment,

and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.

7

These also reel with wine

and stagger with strong drink;

the priest and the prophet reel with strong drink,

they are confused with wine,

they stagger with strong drink;

they err in vision,

they stumble in giving judgment.

8

All tables are covered with filthy vomit;

no place is clean.

9

“Whom will he teach knowledge,

and to whom will he explain the message?

Those who are weaned from milk,

those taken from the breast?

10

For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept,

line upon line, line upon line,

here a little, there a little.”

 

11

Truly, with stammering lip

and with alien tongue

he will speak to this people,

12

to whom he has said,

“This is rest;

give rest to the weary;

and this is repose”;

yet they would not hear.

13

Therefore the word of the Lord will be to them,

“Precept upon precept, precept upon precept,

line upon line, line upon line,

here a little, there a little;”

in order that they may go, and fall backward,

and be broken, and snared, and taken.

14

Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you scoffers

who rule this people in Jerusalem.

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    先知在此用「將殘之花」來形容像以法蓮一般高傲的百姓。這樣的形容非常貼切，因為「將殘之花」只有外形沒有內在，並且是沒有生命力的，不多久就要被丟到垃圾桶去！

    這也說明到人若不與上帝連結，也是這樣的生命！因為人自從始祖犯罪以來，與上帝的關係是越來越遠，最後是斷絕的關係，就像花朵被剪下來插入花瓶一般！而上帝差遣耶穌基督來拯救我們，就是要恢復與上帝有正確且合宜的關係，正如先知所說：「萬軍之耶和華必作他餘剩之民的榮冠華冕」。

    願上帝在基督裡的恩典也臨到您，使耶和華成為您榮耀的冠冕，享受上帝兒女的一切好處，在耶穌基督裡！