Isaiah 30:1-17

1Woe to the rebellious children, saith Jehovah, who take counsel, but not of me, and who make leagues, but not by my Spirit, that they may heap sin upon sin;

2who walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked of my mouth, — to take refuge under the protection of Pharaoh, and trust in the shadow of Egypt!

3For to you the protection of Pharaoh shall be a shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt a confusion.

4For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to Hanes.

5They were all ashamed of a people [that] did not profit them, nor were a help or profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.

6— The burden of the beasts of the south: Through a land of trouble and anguish, whence come the lioness and lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they carry their riches upon the shoulders of asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to the people that shall not profit [them].

7For Egypt shall help in vain, and to no purpose; therefore have I named her, Arrogance, that doeth nothing.

8Now go, write it before them on a tablet, and record it in a book, that it may be for the time to come, as a witness for ever,

9that this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of Jehovah;

10who say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things; speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits;

11get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us!

12Therefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel: Because ye reject this word, and confide in oppression and wilfulness, and depend thereon,

13therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a towering wall, whose breaking shall come suddenly in an instant.

14And he shall break it as the breaking of a potter's vessel, that is broken in pieces unsparingly; and in the pieces of it there shall not be found a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to scoop water out of the cistern.

15For thus saith the Lord Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel: In returning and rest shall ye be saved, in quietness and confidence shall be your strength; but ye would not.

16And ye said, No, but we will flee upon horses, — therefore shall ye flee; and, We will ride upon the swift, — therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.

17One thousand [shall flee] at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as a banner on a hill.