Isaiah 30:1-17

1“Oy , the rebellious children” —it is a declaration of Adonai— “Who carry out a plan, but not Mine, and make an alliance, but not of My Ruach, so they may add sin to sin,

2who go down to Egypt, but did not consult Me, to take refuge in Pharaoh’s stronghold, to seek shelter in Egypt’s shadow.

3Therefore Pharaoh’s stronghold will become your shame, and the shelter in Egypt’s shadow will become your disgrace.

4For though their princes are at Zoan and their ambassadors reach Hanes,

5they will all be ashamed of a people who cannot profit them. They are neither help nor profit, but shame and disgrace.”

6The burden concerning the beasts of the Negev: Through a land of trouble and anguish, in which are lioness and lion, viper and flying serpent, they are carrying their riches on the backs of young donkeys, their treasures on camel humps, to a people who cannot profit them.

7Egypt’s help is futile and pointless. Therefore I have called her “Rahab who just sits.”

8Now go, write it on a tablet for them and inscribe it in a scroll, so that it may be as a witness for the last day, forever.

9For this is a rebellious people, lying children, children unwilling to obey the Torah of Adonai.

10They say to the seers, “Do not see,” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us what is right. Speak to us smooth words. Prophesy illusions.

11Get out of the way! Turn away from the path! Let’s hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.”

12Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel: “Because you despise this word, and trust in oppression and rely on perversity,

13therefore this sin will be to you like a crack bulging in a high wall, about to fall— its collapse comes suddenly, in an instant!

14Its collapse is like smashing a clay jar, so ruthlessly shattered that a shard will not be found among the pieces to take fire from the hearth or scoop water from the cistern.”

15For thus says Adonai Elohim, the Holy One of Israel: “By repentance and rest you are saved, in quietness and trust is your strength— but you were not willing.”

16But you said, “No, we will flee on horses!” Therefore you will flee. And, “We will ride on swift horses!” Therefore your pursuers will be swift.

17A thousand will flee at the threat of one, at the threat of five you will flee, until you are left like a flag on the top of a mountain, and like a banner on a hill.