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 officials are at Zoan And their ambassadors arrive at Hanes.5Everyone will be 11ashamed because of a people who do not benefit them, Who are 12not a help or benefit, but a source of shame and also disgrace.”

6The pronouncement concerning the 13animals of the 14Negev: Through a land of 15distress and anguish, From 16where come lioness and lion, viper and 17flying serpent, They 18carry their riches on the 19backs of young donkeys, And their treasures on 20camels’ humps, To a people who will not benefit them;7Even Egypt, whose 21help is vain and empty. Therefore, I have called 22her “2324Rahab who has been exterminated.”8Now go, 25write it on a tablet in their presence And inscribe it on a scroll, That it may 26serve in the time to come 27As a witness forever.9For this is a 28rebellious people, 29false sons, Sons who 30refuse to 31listen To the 32instruction of the Lord;10Who say to the 33seers, “You must not see visions”; And to the prophets, “You must not 34prophesy the truth to us. 35Speak to us 36pleasant words, Prophesy illusions.11Get out of the way, 37turn aside from the path, 38Stop speaking before us about the Holy One of Israel!” 12Therefore this is what the Holy One of Israel says: “39Since you have rejected this word And have put your trust in 40oppression and crookedness, and have relied on them,13Therefore this 41wrongdoing will be to you Like a 42breach about to fall, A bulge in a high wall, Whose collapse comes 43suddenly in an instant,14Whose collapse is like the smashing of a 44potter’s jar, 45So ruthlessly shattered That a shard will not be found among its pieces To 46take fire from a hearth Or to scoop water from a cistern.” 15For this is what the Lord 47God, the Holy One of Israel, has said: “In 48repentance and 49rest you will be saved, In 50quietness and trust is your strength.” But you were not willing,16And you said, “No, for we will flee on 51horses!” Therefore you shall flee! “And we will ride on swift horses!” Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift.1752One thousand will flee at the threat of one man; You will flee at the threat of five, Until you are left like a signal post on a mountain top, And like a flag on a hill.