Isaiah 30:1-13 ▼

1 “Woe to the rebellious children,” declares Yahweh, “Who execute counsel, but not Mine, And make an alliance, but not of My Spirit, In order to add sin to sin,

2 Who go down to Egypt— But did not ask Me— To find strength in the strong defense of Pharaoh And to take refuge in the shadow of Egypt!

3 Therefore the strong defense of Pharaoh will be your shame And the refuge in the shadow of Egypt, your dishonor.

4 For their princes are at Zoan And their messengers reach Hanes.

5 Everyone will be ashamed because of a people who cannot profit them, Who are not for help or profit, but for shame and also for reproach.”

6 The oracle concerning the beasts of the Negev. Through a land of distress and anguish, From where come lioness and lion, viper and flying fiery serpent, They carry their wealth on the backs of young donkeys And their treasures on camels’ humps, To a people who cannot profit them;

7 Even Egypt, whose help is vain and empty. Therefore, I have called her “Rahab who has ceased.”

8 Now go, write it on a tablet before them And inscribe it on a scroll, That it may be in the time to come As a witness forever.

9 For this is a rebellious people, false sons, Sons who are not willing to listen To the law of Yahweh,

10 Who say to the seers, “You must not see,” And to those who have visions, “You must not behold visions for us of what is right, Speak to us pleasant words, Behold visions of illusions.

11 Get out of the way, turn aside from the path, Cease speaking before us about the Holy One of Israel.”

12 Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel, “Since you have rejected this word And have put your trust in oppression and deviousness and have relied on them,

13 Therefore this iniquity will be to you Like a breach about to fall, A bulge in a high wall, Whose breaking comes suddenly in an instant,