Isaiah 30:1-19 ▼

1 Woe to the apostate children, saith the Lord: ye have framed counsel, not by me, and covenants not by my Spirit, to add sins to sins:

2 even they that proceed to go down into Egypt, but they have not enquired of me, that they might be helped by Pharao, and protected by the Egyptians.

3 For the protection of Pharaoh shall be to you a disgrace, and there shall be a reproach to them that trust in Egypt.

4 For there are princes in Tanes, evil messengers.

5 In vain shall they labour in seeking to a people, which shall not profit them for help, but shall be for a shame and reproach.

6 THE VISION OF THE QUADRUPEDS IN THE DESERT. In affliction and distress, where are the lion and lion's whelp, thence come also asps, and the young of flying asps, there shall they be who bore their wealth on asses and camels to a nation which shall not profit them.

7 The Egyptians shall help you utterly in vain: tell them, This your consolation is vain.

8 Now then sit down and write these words on a tablet, and in a book; for these things shall be for many long days, and even for ever.

9 For the people is disobedient, false children, who would not hear the law of God:

10 who say to the prophets, Report not to us; and to them that see visions, Speak them not to us, but speak and report to us another error;

11 and turn us aside from this way; remove from us this path, and remove from us the oracle of Israel.

12 Therefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye have refused to obey these words, and have trusted in falsehood; and because thou hast murmured, and been confident in this respect:

13 therefore shall this sin be to you as a wall suddenly falling when a strong city has been taken, of which the fall is very near at hand.

14 And the fall thereof shall be as the breaking of an earthen vessel, as small fragments of a pitcher, so that thou shouldest not find among them a sherd, with which thou mightest take up fire, and with which thou shouldest draw a little water.

15 Thus saith the Lord, the Holy Lord of Israel; When thou shalt turn and mourn, then thou shalt be saved; and thou shalt know where thou wast, when thou didst trust in vanities: then your strength became vain, yet ye would not hearken:

16 but ye said, We will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will be aided by swift riders; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.

17 A thousand shall flee because of the voice of one, and many shall flee on account of the voice of five; until ye be left as a signal-post upon a mountain, and as one bearing an ensign upon a hill.

18 And the Lord will again wait, that he may pity you, and will therefore be exalted that he may have mercy upon you: because the Lord your God is a judge: blessed are they that stay themselves upon him.

19 For the holy people shall dwell in Sion: and whereas Jerusalem has wept bitterly, saying , Pity me; he shall pity thee: when he perceived the voice of thy cry, he hearkened to thee.