13 So God will start over with the simple basics
    and address them in baby talk, one syllable at a time—
“Da, da, da, da,
    blah, blah, blah, blah.
That’s a good little girl,
    that’s a good little boy.”
And like toddlers, they will get up and fall down,
    get bruised and confused and lost.

14-15 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.”

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13 So then, the word of the Lord to them will become:
    Do this, do that,
    a rule for this, a rule for that;
    a little here, a little there(A)
so that as they go they will fall backward;
    they will be injured(B) and snared and captured.(C)

14 Therefore hear the word of the Lord,(D) you scoffers(E)
    who rule this people in Jerusalem.
15 You boast, “We have entered into a covenant with death,(F)
    with the realm of the dead we have made an agreement.
When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by,(G)
    it cannot touch us,
for we have made a lie(H) our refuge
    and falsehood[a] our hiding place.(I)

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 28:15 Or false gods