Isaiah 30

1 “Oh, you stubborn children,” declares the LORD, “who carry out plans— but they are not mine, and who make alliances— but not by my Spirit, piling sin upon sin.ISV — Isaiah 30:1

2 They set out to go down to Egypt, without asking my advice; taking refuge in Pharaoh’s protection, and seeking shelter in Egypt’s shadow.ISV — Isaiah 30:2

3 But Pharaoh’s protection will become your shame, and sheltering in Egypt’s shadow your longing. ^{a30:3 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read disgrace}ISV — Isaiah 30:3

4 And it will turn out that ^{b30:4 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read For even though} his officials are at Zoan, and his envoys will reach Hanes.ISV — Isaiah 30:4

5 There is only loathsome destruction ^{c30:5 So 1QIsaa; MT reads Everyone comes to shame} through a people that cannot benefit them, who bring neither help nor profit, but only shame and disgrace.”ISV — Isaiah 30:5

6 An oracle about the animals of the Negev: ^{d30:6 i.e. southern regions of the Sinai peninsula; cf. Josh 10:40} “Through a land of trouble, dryness, ^{e30:6 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX lack dryness; cf. Isa 41:18} and distress, of lionesses and roaring lions, where there is no water, ^{f30:6 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read from whence come} a land of vipers and darting snakes, he carries ^{g30:6 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read they carry} their riches on donkeys’ backs, and their treasures on the humps of camels, to a nation that cannot benefit them,ISV — Isaiah 30:6

7 to Egypt, which gives help that is worthless and useless. Therefore I call her, ‘Rahab, ^{h30:7 The Heb. word Rahab means The One who Storms; i.e. Egypt; cf. Isa 51:9; Ps 87:4} who just sits still.’”ISV — Isaiah 30:7

8 “Go now, and write it down ^{i30:8 So 1QIsaa MT; 4QIsac LXX read write down} on a tablet in their presence, inscribing it in a book, so that for times to come it may be an everlasting witness.ISV — Isaiah 30:8

9 For they are a rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to hear the LORD’s instruction.ISV — Isaiah 30:9

10 They say to the seers, ‘Don’t see visions,’ and to the prophets, ‘Don’t give us visions of what is right! Instead, tell us welcome things, prophesy illusions,ISV — Isaiah 30:10

11 get out of the way, turn aside from the path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel.” ^{j30:11 Lit. bring to an end the Holy One from before us.}ISV — Isaiah 30:11

12 Therefore, this is what the Holy One of Israel says: “Because you reject this message, and put your trust in oppression and enjoy it, ^{k30:12 Apparent meaning 1QIsaa; MT reads and are perverse} and since you rely on it,ISV — Isaiah 30:12

13 therefore, for you this sin will become like a breach in a high wall that is about to collapse, bulging out, and whose crash comes suddenly—in an instant.ISV — Isaiah 30:13

14 Its breaking will be like when potters’ vessels are broken, shattered so ruthlessly ^{l30:14 Lit. broken—they do not take pity; so 1QIsaa; MT reads broken—he does not take pity} that among its fragments not even a broken sliver will be found for taking fire from a hearth or scooping water out of a cistern.”ISV — Isaiah 30:14

15 For this is what the LORD ^{m30:15 So 1QIsaa} GOD, ^{n30:15 So 1QIsaa corrector} the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest you will be saved; in staying calm and trusting will be your strength. But you refused.ISV — Isaiah 30:15

16 Instead, you said, ‘No! We’ll escape on horses!’ Therefore, you’ll flee away. And you said, ‘We’ll ride off on swift steeds!’ Therefore your pursuers will be swift.ISV — Isaiah 30:16

17 A thousand will flee at the threat of one; and run away, pursued by ^{o30:17 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read away at the threat of} five, until you are left like a flagpole on a mountaintop, ^{p30:17 So 1QIsaa LXX; MT reads the mountaintop} like a banner on a hill.”ISV — Isaiah 30:17

18 “Nevertheless, the LORD will wait so he can be gracious to you; and thus he will rise up to show you mercy. For the LORD is a God of justice. How blessed are all those who wait for him.”ISV — Isaiah 30:18

19 Indeed, you people who live in Zion and in Jerusalem, ^{q30:19 So 1QIsaa; cf. LXX; MT reads at Jerusalem} you ^{r30:19 So 1QIsaa (pl.); MT (sing.)} will weep no more. How gracious the LORD ^{s30:19 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read he} will be to you at the sound of your cry! As soon as he hears it, he will answer you.ISV — Isaiah 30:19

20 And although the LORD gives you the bread of adversity and the water ^{t30:20 So 1QIsaa; MT lacks the correct Heb. construct} of affliction, your teachers won’t hide themselves ^{u30:20 So 1QIsaa; MT reads himself} anymore, but your own eyes will see your teachers.ISV — Isaiah 30:20

21 And whether you turn to the right or turn to the left, your ears will hear a message behind you: “This is the way, walk in it.”ISV — Isaiah 30:21

22 Then you will defile your carved idols that are overlaid with silver and your images plated with gold. You’ll throw them away like disgusting objects ^{v30:22 Lit. like menstrual rags} and say to them, “Away with you!”ISV — Isaiah 30:22

23 He will also provide rain for your seed that you sow in the ground, and the food that comes from the ground will be ^{w30:23 So 1QIsaa LXX; MT reads and it will be} rich and abundant. At that time, ^{x30:23 Lit. On that day} your cattle will graze in broad meadows,ISV — Isaiah 30:23

24 and oxen and donkeys that work the ground will eat seasoned ^{y30:24 Lit. salted} fodder that workers will winnow with shovels and forks.ISV — Isaiah 30:24

25 And on every lofty mountain and every high hill there will be brooks and canals ^{z30:25 So 1QIsaa; MT reads streams} running with water on the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.ISV — Isaiah 30:25

26 Moreover, the light of the moon will be like the light of the sun, and the sun’s light will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days, ^{aa30:26 So 1QIsaa MT; LXX lacks like the light of seven full days} when the LORD binds up the bruises of his people and heals the wounds inflicted by his blow.ISV — Isaiah 30:26

27 See, the name of the LORD comes from far away, burning with his anger, and in thick rising smoke; his lips are full of fury, and his tongue is like a devouring fire.ISV — Isaiah 30:27

28 His breath is like an overflowing torrent, and it rises right up to the neck, to shake ^{bb30:28 So 1QIsaa; MT reads to sift; LXX reads to confuse} the nations in the sieve of destruction, and to place in the jaws of the peoples a bit that leads them astray.ISV — Isaiah 30:28

29 You will have songs as on nights when people celebrate a holy festival, ^{cc30:29 So 1QIsaa; MT reads one celebrates a holy festival} and gladness of heart, as when they set out with flutes to go to the LORD’s mountain, to the Rock of Israel.ISV — Isaiah 30:29

30 And the LORD will make heard—yes, he will make heard ^{dd30:30 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read heard only once} —his majestic voice, and make his arm ^{ee30:30 i.e. the Messiah} seen descending in raging anger and in a flame of consuming fire, with a cloudburst, thunderstorm and hailstones.ISV — Isaiah 30:30

31 Indeed, the Assyrians will be shattered at the LORD’s voice, when he strikes them with his scepter.ISV — Isaiah 30:31

32 And every stroke of his punishing rod ^{ff30:32 So MTmss; 1QIsaa reads the rod of his foundation; MT reads the rod of foundation} that the LORD brings down on them will be to the sound of tambourines and harps, as he fights against her ^{gg30:32 So 1QIsaa MT; MTqere, mss read against them} in battle with a brandished arm.ISV — Isaiah 30:32

33 For the Fire Pit ^{hh30:33 Lit. the Topheth; i.e. a fire pit near Jerusalem where the Canaanite deity Molech was worshipped} has long been prepared; truly it is for the king; it will indeed be made ready. ^{ii30:33 So 1QIsaa; MT reads it is made ready for the king; cf. LXX} And ^{jj30:33 So 1QIsaa; MT lacks And} its pyre will be deep and wide, with abundant fire and wood. Like a stream of burning sulfur, the breath of the LORD will set it ablaze.ISV — Isaiah 30:33