Isaiah 28:6-7

28:6 He will give discernment to the one who makes judicial decisions,

and strength to those who defend the city from attackers. ¹ 

28:7 Even these men ²  stagger because of wine,

they stumble around because of beer –

priests and prophets stagger because of beer,

they are confused ³  because of wine,

they stumble around because of beer;

they stagger while seeing prophetic visions, ⁴ 

they totter while making legal decisions. ⁵ 

[28:6]  ¹ tn Heb “and [he will become] a spirit of justice for the one who sits [i.e., presides] over judgment, // and strength [for] the ones who turn back battle at the city gate.” The Lord will provide internal stability and national security.

[28:7]  ² tn Heb “these.” The demonstrative pronoun anticipates “priests and prophets” two lines later.

[28:7]  ³ tn According to HALOT 135 s.v. III בלע, the verb form is derived from בָּלַע (bala’, “confuse”), not the more common בָּלַע (“swallow”). See earlier notes at 3:12 and 9:16.

[28:7]  ⁴ tn Heb “in the seeing.”

[28:7]  ⁵ tn Heb “[in] giving a decision.”