Isaiah 28:1

Woe to the majestic crown of Ephraim’s drunkards, to the fading flower of his glorious splendor, set on the summit above the fertile valley, the pride of those overcome by wine.

² Behold, the Lord has one who is strong and mighty. Like a hailstorm or destructive tempest, like a driving rain or flooding downpour, he will smash that crown to the ground.

³ The majestic crown of Ephraim’s drunkards will be trampled underfoot.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Woe to the majestic crown of Ephraim’s drunkards, to the fading flower of his glorious splendor, set on the summit above the fertile valley, the pride of those overcome by wine.
KJV: Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine!
WEB: Woe to the crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim, and to the fading flower of his glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fertile valley of those who are overcome with wine!
ASV: Woe to the crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim, and to the fading flower of his glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley of them that are overcome with wine!
DARBY: Woe to the crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim, and to the fading flower of his glorious adornment, which is on the head of the fat valley of them that are overcome with wine.
BLB: Woe, to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, and the withering flower, the beauty of his glory, which [is] at the head of the valley of fatness, those having been struck down by wine!

ÅB: Ve Efra'ims drukne menns stolte krone og den falmende blomst, hans fagre pryd, som troner over den fete dal[^1], der de ligger drukne av vin.
OTB: Ve den stolte kransen til Efraims drankere, og den visnende blomsten av dens herlige skjønnhet, som er satt på hodet av en fruktbar dal, til dem som er overvunnet av vin!
B1930: Ve Efra'ims drukne menns stolte krone og den falmende blomst, hans fagre pryd, som troner over den fete dal, der de ligger drukne av vin. / < Samaria, Israels rikes hovedstad, lå på et fjell i en fruktbar dal; 1KG 16, 24.>

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Hosea 7:5
The princes are inflamed with wine on the day of our king; so he joins hands with those who mock him.
Read in context
Isaiah 28:7
These also stagger from wine and stumble from strong drink: Priests and prophets reel from strong drink and are befuddled by wine. They stumble because of strong drink, muddled in their visions and stumbling in their judgments.
Read in context
Isaiah 28:3–4
The majestic crown of Ephraim’s drunkards will be trampled underfoot.
Read in context
2 Kings 14:25–27
This Jeroboam restored the boundary of Israel from Lebo-hamath to the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word that the LORD, the God of Israel, had spoken through His servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath-hepher.
Read in context
Isaiah 5:22
Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine and champions in mixing beer,
Read in context
2 Kings 18:10–12
And at the end of three years, the Assyrians captured it. So Samaria was captured in the sixth year of Hezekiah, which was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel.
Read in context
Hosea 6:10
In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing: Ephraim practices prostitution there, and Israel is defiled.
Read in context
Amos 6:6
You drink wine by the bowlful and anoint yourselves with the finest oils, but you fail to grieve over the ruin of Joseph.
Read in context