Today’s Scripture:

What sorrow awaits the proud city of Samaria—    the glorious crown of the drunks of Israel.[a]It sits at the head of a fertile valley,    but its glorious beauty will fade like a flower.It is the pride of a people    brought down by wine.2 For the Lord will send a mighty army against it.    Like a mighty hailstorm and a torrential rain,they will burst upon it like a surging flood    and smash it to the ground.3 The proud city of Samaria—    the glorious crown of the drunks of Israel[b]—    will be trampled beneath its enemies’ feet.4 It sits at the head of a fertile valley,    but its glorious beauty will fade like a flower.Whoever sees it will snatch it up,    as an early fig is quickly picked and eaten.

5 Then at last the Lord of Heaven’s Armies    will himself be Israel’s glorious crown.He will be the pride and joy    of the remnant of his people.6 He will give a longing for justice    to their judges.He will give great courage    to their warriors who stand at the gates.

7 Now, however, Israel is led by drunks    who reel with wine and stagger with alcohol.The priests and prophets stagger with alcohol    and lose themselves in wine.They reel when they see visions    and stagger as they render decisions.8 Their tables are covered with vomit;    filth is everywhere.9 “Who does the Lord think we are?” they ask.    “Why does he speak to us like this?Are we little children,    just recently weaned?10 He tells us everything over and over—one line at a time,    one line at a time,a little here,    and a little there!”

11 So now God will have to speak to his people    through foreign oppressors who speak a strange language!12 God has told his people,“Here is a place of rest;    let the weary rest here.This is a place of quiet rest.”    But they would not listen.13 So the Lord will spell out his message for them again,one line at a time,    one line at a time,a little here,    and a little there,so that they will stumble and fall.    They will be injured, trapped, and captured.

14 Therefore, listen to this message from the Lord,    you scoffing rulers in Jerusalem.15 You boast, “We have struck a bargain to cheat death    and have made a deal to dodge the grave.[c]The coming destruction can never touch us,    for we have built a strong refuge made of lies and deception.”

16 Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says:“Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem,[d]    a firm and tested stone.It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on.    Whoever believes need never be shaken.[e]17 I will test you with the measuring line of jus...