Isaiah 30:1-17

1“Woe to the 1rebellious children,” declares the Lord, “Who 2execute a plan, but not Mine, And 34make an alliance, but not of My Spirit, In order to add sin to sin;2Who 5proceed down to Egypt Without 6consulting 7Me, 8To take refuge in the safety of Pharaoh And to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt!3Therefore the safety of Pharaoh will be 9your shame And the shelter in the shadow of Egypt, your humiliation.4For 10their princes are at Zoan And their ambassadors arrive at Hanes.5Everyone will be 11ashamed because of a people who cannot profit them, Who are 12not for help or profit, but for shame and also for reproach.”

6The 13oracle concerning the 14beasts of the 15Negev. Through a land of 16distress and anguish, From 17where come lioness and lion, viper and 18flying serpent, They 19carry their riches on the 20backs of young donkeys And their treasures on 21camels’ humps, To a people who cannot profit them;7Even Egypt, whose 22help is vain and empty. Therefore, I have called 23her “2425Rahab who has been exterminated.”8Now go, 26write it on a tablet before them And inscribe it on a scroll, That it may 27serve in the time to come 28As a witness forever.9For this is a 29rebellious people, 30false sons, Sons who 31refuse to 32listen To the 33instruction of the Lord;10Who say to the 34seers, “You must not see visions”; And to the prophets, “You must not 35prophesy to us what is right, 36Speak to us 37pleasant words, Prophesy illusions.11Get out of the way, 38turn aside from the path, 3940Let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.” 12Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel, “41Since you have rejected this word And have put your trust in 42oppression and guile, and have relied on them,13Therefore this 43iniquity will be to you Like a 44breach about to fall, A bulge in a high wall, Whose collapse comes 45suddenly in an instant,14Whose collapse is like the smashing of a 46potter’s jar, 47So ruthlessly shattered That a sherd will not be found among its pieces To 48take fire from a hearth Or to scoop water from a cistern.” 15For thus the Lord 49God, the Holy One of Israel, has said, “In 50repentance and 51rest you will be saved, In 52quietness and trust is your strength.” But you were not willing,16And you said, “No, for we will flee on 53horses,” Therefore you shall flee! “And we will ride on swift horses,” Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift.1754One thousand will flee at the threat of one man; You will flee at the threat of five, Until you are left as a 55flag on a mountain top And as a signal on a hill.