16  therefore thus says the Lord God,

^m“Behold, I am the one who has laid¹ as a ⁿfoundation in Zion,

a ^ostone, a tested stone,

a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation:

^p‘Whoever ^qbelieves will not be in haste.’

17  And I will make justice the ^rline,

and righteousness the plumb line;

and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies,

and waters will overwhelm the shelter.”

18  Then your covenant with death will be annulled,

and your agreement with Sheol will not stand;

when the overwhelming scourge passes through,

you will be beaten down by it.

19  As often as it passes through it will take you;

for morning by morning it will pass through,

by day and by night;

and it will be sheer terror to understand the message.

20  For the bed is too short to stretch oneself on,

and the covering too narrow to wrap oneself in.

21  For the Lord will rise up ^sas on Mount Perazim;

^tas in the Valley of Gibeon he will be roused;

to do his deed—strange is his deed!

and to work his work—alien is his work!

22  Now therefore do not scoff,

lest your bonds be made strong;

for I have heard a ^udecree of destruction

from the Lord God of hosts against the whole land.