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Sunday, July 20th, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Read the Bible

THE MESSAGE

Isaiah 28:14

Now listen to God 's Message, you scoffers, you who rule this people in Jerusalem. You say, "We've taken out good life insurance. We've hedged all our bets, covered all our bases. No disaster can touch us. We've thought of everything. We're advised by the experts. We're set."

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Infidelity;   Isaiah;   Israel, Prophecies Concerning;   Presumption;   Rulers;   Scoffing;   Word of God;   Thompson Chain Reference - Invitations-Warnings;   Magistrates;   Nation, the;   Rulers;   Sin;   Social Duties;   Temperance;   Temperance-Intemperance;   Warnings;   The Topic Concordance - Covenant;   Foundation;   Hearing;   Jesus Christ;   Scorn;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Scorning and Mocking;  

Dictionaries:

- Fausset Bible Dictionary - Tongues, Gift of;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Isaiah;   Scoffer;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Isaiah, Book of;   Untoward;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Prophets, the;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Vagabond;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Hezekiah (2);   Scorn;   Wisdom;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you scofferswho rule this people in Jerusalem.
Hebrew Names Version
Why hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers, that rule this people that is in Yerushalayim:
King James Version
Wherefore hear the word of the Lord , ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.
English Standard Version
Therefore hear the word of the Lord , you scoffers, who rule this people in Jerusalem!
New American Standard Bible
Therefore, hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers, Who rule this people who are in Jerusalem,
New Century Version
So listen to the Lord 's message, you who brag, you leaders in Jerusalem.
Amplified Bible
Therefore, hear the word of the LORD, you arrogant men Who rule this people who are in Jerusalem!
World English Bible
Why hear the word of Yahweh, you scoffers, that rule this people that is in Jerusalem:
Geneva Bible (1587)
Wherefore, heare the worde of the Lorde, ye scornefull men that rule this people, which is at Ierusalem.
Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore, hear the word of Yahweh, O scoffers,Who rule this people who are in Jerusalem,
Berean Standard Bible
Therefore hear the word of the LORD, O scoffers, who rule this people in Jerusalem.
Contemporary English Version
You rulers of Jerusalem do nothing but sneer; now you must listen to what the Lord says.
Complete Jewish Bible
So listen to the word of Adonai , you scoffers, composing taunts for this people in Yerushalayim:
Darby Translation
Therefore hear the word of Jehovah, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.
Easy-to-Read Version
You leaders in Jerusalem should listen to the Lord 's message, but now you refuse to listen to him.
George Lamsa Translation
Therefore hear the word of the LORD, O you scornful men, who rule this people that is in Jerusalem:
Good News Translation
Now you arrogant leaders who rule here in Jerusalem over this people, listen to what the Lord is saying.
Lexham English Bible
Therefore hear the word of Yahweh, men of mockery, rulers of these people in Jerusalem:
Literal Translation
So hear the Word of Jehovah, scornful men, rulers of this people in Jerusalem.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Wherfore heare the worde of the LORDE, ye mockers that rule the LORDES people, which is at Ierusale.
American Standard Version
Wherefore hear the word of Jehovah, ye scoffers, that rule this people that is in Jerusalem:
Bible in Basic English
Give ear then to the word of the Lord, you men of pride, the rulers of this people in Jerusalem:
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scoffers, the ballad-mongers of this people which is in Jerusalem:
King James Version (1611)
Wherefore heare the worde of the Lord, yee scornefull men, that rule this people which is in Ierusalem.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Wherfore heare the word of the Lord ye mockers, ye that haue rule of this people whiche is at Hierusalem.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Therefore hear ye the word of the Lord, ye afflicted men, and ye princes of this people that is in Jerusalem.
English Revised Version
Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem:
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For this thing, ye men scorneris, that ben lordis ouer my puple which is in Jerusalem, here the word of the Lord.
Update Bible Version
Therefore hear the word of Yahweh, you scoffers, that rule this people that is in Jerusalem:
Webster's Bible Translation
Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which [is] in Jerusalem.
New English Translation
Therefore, listen to the Lord 's word, you who mock, you rulers of these people who reside in Jerusalem!
New King James Version
Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scornful men, Who rule this people who are in Jerusalem,
New Living Translation
Therefore, listen to this message from the Lord , you scoffing rulers in Jerusalem.
New Life Bible
So hear the Word of the Lord, you who laugh at the truth, who rule the people in Jerusalem!
New Revised Standard
Therefore hear the word of the Lord , you scoffers who rule this people in Jerusalem.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Wherefore, hear ye the word of Yahweh, Ye men who scoff, - Ye rulers of this people that is in Jerusalem.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Wherefore hear the word of the Lord, ye scornful men, who rule over my people that is in Jerusalem.
Revised Standard Version
Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers, who rule this people in Jerusalem!
Young's Literal Translation
Therefore, hear a word of Jehovah, ye men of scorning, Ruling this people that [is] in Jerusalem.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Therefore, hear the word of the LORD, O scoffers, Who rule this people who are in Jerusalem,

Contextual Overview

14Now listen to God 's Message, you scoffers, you who rule this people in Jerusalem. You say, "We've taken out good life insurance. We've hedged all our bets, covered all our bases. No disaster can touch us. We've thought of everything. We're advised by the experts. We're set." 16But the Master, God , has something to say to this: "Watch closely. I'm laying a foundation in Zion, a solid granite foundation, squared and true. And this is the meaning of the stone: a trusting life won't topple. I'll make justice the measuring stick and righteousness the plumb line for the building. A hailstorm will knock down the shantytown of lies, and a flash flood will wash out the rubble. 18"Then you'll see that your precious life insurance policy wasn't worth the paper it was written on. Your careful precautions against death were a pack of illusions and lies. When the disaster happens, you'll be crushed by it. Every time disaster comes, you'll be in on it— disaster in the morning, disaster at night." Every report of disaster will send you cowering in terror. There will be no place where you can rest, nothing to hide under. God will rise to full stature, raging as he did long ago on Mount Perazim And in the valley of Gibeon against the Philistines. But this time it's against you. Hard to believe, but true. Not what you'd expect, but it's coming. Sober up, friends, and don't scoff. Scoffing will just make it worse. I've heard the orders issued for destruction, orders from God -of-the-Angel-Armies—ending up in an international disaster.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

ye: Isaiah 28:22, Isaiah 1:10, Isaiah 5:9, Isaiah 29:20, Proverbs 1:22, Proverbs 3:34, Proverbs 29:8, Hosea 7:5, Acts 13:41

Reciprocal: Numbers 16:27 - and stood 1 Kings 22:19 - Hear thou 2 Chronicles 18:18 - hear the word Proverbs 13:1 - but Proverbs 19:28 - scorneth Isaiah 8:8 - he shall pass Isaiah 33:14 - sinners Jeremiah 5:12 - have belied Jeremiah 10:1 - General Jeremiah 13:15 - be Jeremiah 22:2 - Hear Jeremiah 23:36 - for ye Jeremiah 36:23 - he cut Jeremiah 44:24 - Hear Ezekiel 12:27 - for Ezekiel 13:2 - Hear Ezekiel 16:35 - hear Ezekiel 21:23 - as a Hosea 4:1 - Hear Amos 6:13 - Have Amos 8:4 - Hear Amos 9:10 - The evil Micah 2:3 - go Malachi 3:13 - Your John 7:49 - General 2 Peter 3:3 - scoffers

Cross-References

Genesis 13:14
After Lot separated from him, God said to Abram, "Open your eyes, look around. Look north, south, east, and west. Everything you see, the whole land spread out before you, I will give to you and your children forever. I'll make your descendants like dust—counting your descendants will be as impossible as counting the dust of the Earth. So—on your feet, get moving! Walk through the country, its length and breadth; I'm giving it all to you."
Deuteronomy 12:20
When God , your God, expands your territory as he promised he would do, and you say, "I'm hungry for meat," because you happen to be craving meat at the time, go ahead and eat as much meat as you want. If you're too far away from the place that God , your God, has marked with his name, it's all right to slaughter animals from your herds and flocks that God has given you, as I've commanded you. In your own towns you may eat as much of them as you want. Just as the nonsacrificial animals like the gazelle and deer are eaten, you may eat them; the ritually unclean and clean may eat them at the same table.
Ephesians 1:3
How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.
Revelation 7:4
I heard the count of those who were sealed: 144,000! They were sealed out of every Tribe of Israel: 12,000 sealed from Judah, 12,000 from Reuben, 12,000 from Gad, 12,000 from Asher, 12,000 from Naphtali, 12,000 from Manasseh, 12,000 from Simeon, 12,000 from Levi, 12,000 from Issachar, 12,000 from Zebulun, 12,000 from Joseph, 12,000 sealed from Benjamin.
Revelation 7:9
I looked again. I saw a huge crowd, too huge to count. Everyone was there—all nations and tribes, all races and languages. And they were standing, dressed in white robes and waving palm branches, standing before the Throne and the Lamb and heartily singing: Salvation to our God on his Throne! Salvation to the Lamb! All who were standing around the Throne—Angels, Elders, Animals—fell on their faces before the Throne and worshiped God, singing: Oh, Yes! The blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving, The honor and power and strength, To our God forever and ever and ever! Oh, Yes!

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Wherefore hear the word of the Lord, ye scornful men,.... Men of scorn and mockery, that scoffed and mocked at the word of God, as in the preceding verse Isaiah 28:13; or at the threatenings of punishment; and even made a jest of death and hell, as in the following words: "the word of the Lord" they are called upon to hear, hearken, and attend to, is either the word of promise of the Messiah,

Isaiah 28:16 or rather the word threatening them with ruin,

Isaiah 28:18 or it may be both:

that rule this people which [is] in Jerusalem; which must not be understood of the chief ruler Hezekiah, but rather of some subordinate rulers, such as Shebna and others; these set a very bad example to the common people: no wonder that irreligion and profaneness prevail, when civil magistrates are scoffers at religion. It agrees best with the rulers of the Jewish people in the times of Christ, who mocked at him and his ministry, and that of his apostles.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Wherefore ... - This verse commences a direct address to the scoffing and scornful nation, which is continued to the close of Isaiah 28:22. It is addressed particularly to the rulers in Jerusalem, as being the leaders in crime, and as being eminently deserving of the wrath of God.

Ye scornful men - Ye who despise and reproach God and his message; who fancy yourselves to be secure, and mock at the threatened judgments of the Almighty.


 
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