10 For it is:

Do this, do that,

a rule for this, a rule for that;

a little here, a little there.”

11 Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues

God will speak to this people,

12 to whom he said,

“This is the resting place, let the weary rest”;

and, “This is the place of repose”—

but they would not listen.

10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept;

Line upon line, line upon line;

Here a little, and there a little:

11 For with stammering lips and another tongue

Will he speak to this people.

12 To whom he said,

This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest;

And this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

10 He tells us everything over and over—

one line at a time,

one line at a time,

a little here,

and a little there!”

11 So now God will have to speak to his people

through foreign oppressors who speak a strange language!

12 God has told his people,

“Here is a place of rest;

let the weary rest here.

This is a place of quiet rest.”

But they would not listen.

10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept,

Line upon line, line upon line,

Here a little, there a little.”

11 For with stammering lips and another tongue

He will speak to this people,

12 To whom He said, “This is the rest with which

You may cause the weary to rest,”

And, “This is the refreshing”;

Yet they would not hear.

10 So they make fun of the Lord’s prophet and say:

“A command here, a command there.

A rule here, a rule there.

A little lesson here, a little lesson there.”

11 So the Lord will use strange words and foreign languages

to speak to these people.

12 God said to them,

“Here is a place of rest;

let the tired people come and rest.

This is the place of peace.”

But the people would not listen.

10 For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, there a little.

11 Nay, but by men of strange lips and with another tongue will he speak to this people; 12 to whom he said, This is the rest, give ye rest to him that is weary; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

10 For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, there a little. … 11 For with stammering lips and a strange tongue will he speak to this people; 12 to whom he said, This is the rest: cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing. But they would not hear.

10 They speak utter nonsense.

11 The Lord will speak to these people. 

He will mock them by speaking in a foreign language. 

12 He will say to them, 

“This is a place for comfort. 

This is a place of rest for those who are tired. 

This is a place for them to rest.” 

But they weren’t willing to listen. 

10 For he says: “Law after law, law after law,

line after line, line after line,

a little here, a little there.”

11 So He will speak to this people

with stammering speech

and in a foreign language.

12 He had said to them:

“This is the place of rest,

let the weary rest;

this is the place of repose.”

But they would not listen.

10 For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept,

line upon line, line upon line,

here a little, there a little.”

11 Truly, with stammering lip

and with alien tongue

he will speak to this people,

12 to whom he has said,

“This is rest;

give rest to the weary;

and this is repose”;

yet they would not hear.

10 For it is blah-blah upon blah-blah,

blah-blah upon blah-blah,

gah-gah upon gah-gah,

gah-gah upon gah-gah,

a little here, a little there.

11 For he will speak with stammering and another tongue to this people, 12 to whom he has said,

“This is rest; give rest to the weary;

and this is repose”; yet they were not willing to hear.

10 Here is how he teaches.

Do this and do that.

Do that and do this.

Obey this rule and obey that rule.

Obey that rule and obey this rule.

Learn a little here and learn a little there.”

11 All right then, these people won’t listen to me.

So God will speak to them.

He will speak by using people who speak unfamiliar languages.

He will speak by using the mouths of strangers.

12 He said to his people,

“I am offering you a resting place.

Let those who are tired rest.”

He continued, “I am offering you a place of peace and quiet.”

But they wouldn’t listen.

10 “For He says,

‘Order on order, order on order,

Line on line, line on line,

A little here, a little there.’ ”

11 Indeed, He will speak to this people

Through stammering lips and a foreign tongue,

12 He who said to them, “Here is rest, give rest to the weary,”

And, “Here is repose,” but they would not listen.