Isaiah 30:1-9

1"Ah, stubborn children," declares the Lord, "who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin;

2who set out to go down to Egypt, without asking for my direction, to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt!

3Therefore shall the protection of Pharaoh turn to your shame, and the shelter in the shadow of Egypt to your humiliation.

4For though his officials are at Zoan and his envoys reach Hanes,

5everyone comes to shame through a people that cannot profit them, that brings neither help nor profit, but shame and disgrace."

6An oracle on the beasts of the Negeb. Through a land of trouble and anguish, from where come the lioness and the lion, the adder and the flying fiery serpent, they carry their riches on the backs of donkeys, and their treasures on the humps of camels, to a people that cannot profit them.

7Egypt's help is worthless and empty; therefore I have called her "Rahab who sits still."

8And now, go, write it before them on a tablet and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come as a witness forever.

9For they are a rebellious people, lying children, children unwilling to hear the instruction of the Lord;