Isaiah 30:1-17

1The Lord declares, “How horrible it will be for those rebellious children. They carry out plans, but not mine. They make alliances against my will. They pile sin on top of sin.

2They go to Egypt without asking me. They look for shelter under Pharaoh’s protection and look for refuge in Egypt’s shadow.

3But Pharaoh’s protection will be their shame, and the refuge in Egypt’s shadow will be their disgrace.

4Although Pharaoh’s officials are in Zoan and his messengers have reached Hanes,

5the people of Judah will be put to shame because that nation can’t help them. That nation can’t give aid or help to them. It can only offer shame and disgrace.”

6This is the divine revelation about the animals in the Negev. “My people travel through lands where they experience distress and hardship. Lions and lionesses live there. Vipers and poisonous snakes live there. They carry their riches on the backs of young donkeys and their treasures on the humps of camels to a nation that can’t help them.

7Egypt’s help is completely useless. That is why I call it, ‘Rahab  who sits still.’

8Now, write this on a tablet for them, and inscribe it in a book so that it will be there in the future as a permanent witness.

9These people are rebellious and deceitful children, children who refuse to listen to the Lord’s teachings.

10They say to the seers, ‘Don’t see ⌞the future⌟.’ They say to those who have visions, ‘Don’t have visions that tell us what is right. Tell us what we want to hear. See illusions.

11Get out of our way! Stop blocking our path! Get the Holy One of Israel out of our sight.’ ”

12This is what the Holy One of Israel says: You have rejected this warning, trusted oppression and deceit, and leaned on them.

13That is why your sin will be like a high wall with a bulging crack, ready to fall. All of a sudden it will fall.

14It will break like pottery. It will be smashed, and nothing will be left of it. No piece will be big enough to carry live coals from a fireplace or to dip water from a reservoir.

15This is what the Almighty Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: You can be saved by returning to me. You can have rest. You can be strong by being quiet and by trusting me. But you don’t want that.

16You’ve said, “No, we’ll flee on horses.” So you flee. You’ve added, “We’ll ride on fast horses.” So those who chase you will also be fast.

17One thousand people will flee when one person threatens them, and you will flee when five threaten you. Then you will be left alone like a flagpole on top of a mountain, like a signpost on a hill.