“See, I lay a stone in Zion,^(A) a tested stone,^(B)
    a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;^(C)
the one who relies on it
    will never be stricken with panic.^(D)
17 I will make justice^(E) the measuring line
    and righteousness the plumb line;^(F)
hail^(G) will sweep away your refuge, the lie,
    and water will overflow^(H) your hiding place.
¹⁸ Your covenant with death will be annulled;
    your agreement with the realm of the dead will not stand.^(I)
When the overwhelming scourge sweeps by,^(J)
    you will be beaten down^(K) by it.
¹⁹ As often as it comes it will carry you away;^(L)
    morning after morning,^(M) by day and by night,
    it will sweep through.”

The understanding of this message
    will bring sheer terror.^(N)
20 The bed is too short to stretch out on,
    the blanket too narrow to wrap around you.^(O)
21 The Lord will rise up as he did at Mount Perazim,^(P)
    he will rouse himself as in the Valley of Gibeon^(Q)—
to do his work,^(R) his strange work,
    and perform his task, his alien task.
²² Now stop your mocking,^(S)
    or your chains will become heavier;
the Lord, the Lord Almighty, has told me
    of the destruction decreed^(T) against the whole land.^(U)

²³ Listen^(V) and hear my voice;
    pay attention and hear what I say.
²⁴ When a farmer plows for planting,^(W) does he plow continually?
    Does he keep on breaking up and working the soil?
²⁵ When he has leveled the surface,
    does he not sow caraway and scatter cumin?^(X)
Does he not plant wheat in its place,^[a]
    barley^(Y) in its plot,^[b]
    and spelt^(Z) in its field?
²⁶ His God instructs him
    and teaches^(AA) him the right way.

²⁷ Caraway is not threshed^(AB) with a sledge,^(AC)
    nor is the wheel of a cart rolled over cumin;
caraway is beaten out with a rod,^(AD)
    and cumin with a stick.
²⁸ Grain must be ground to make bread;
    so one does not go on threshing it forever.
The wheels of a threshing cart^(AE) may be rolled over it,
    but one does not use horses to grind grain.
²⁹ All this also comes from the Lord Almighty,
    whose plan is wonderful,^(AF)
    whose wisdom is magnificent.^(AG)