13 this sin will become for you

like a high wall, cracked and bulging,

that collapses suddenly, in an instant.

14 It will break in pieces like pottery,

shattered so mercilessly

that among its pieces not a fragment will be found

for taking coals from a hearth

or scooping water out of a cistern.”

15 This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:

“In repentance and rest is your salvation,

in quietness and trust is your strength,

but you would have none of it.

16 You said, ‘No, we will flee on horses.’

Therefore you will flee!

You said, ‘We will ride off on swift horses.’

Therefore your pursuers will be swift!

17 A thousand will flee

at the threat of one;

at the threat of five

you will all flee away,

till you are left

like a flagstaff on a mountaintop,

like a banner on a hill.”

13 therefore this iniquity shall be to you

like a breach in a high wall, bulging out and about to collapse,

whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant;

14 and its breaking is like that of a potter’s vessel

that is smashed so ruthlessly

that among its fragments not a shard is found

with which to take fire from the hearth,

or to dip up water out of the cistern.”

15 For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel,

“In returning and rest you shall be saved;

in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”

But you were unwilling, 16 and you said,

“No! We will flee upon horses”;

therefore you shall flee away;

and, “We will ride upon swift steeds”;

therefore your pursuers shall be swift.

17 A thousand shall flee at the threat of one;

at the threat of five you shall flee,

till you are left

like a flagstaff on the top of a mountain,

like a signal on a hill.

13 Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall,

Swelling out in a high wall,

Whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.

14 And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters’ vessel

That is broken in pieces; he shall not spare:

So that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd

To take fire from the hearth,

Or to take water withal out of the pit.

15 For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel;

In returning and rest shall ye be saved;

In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength:

And ye would not.

16 But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses;

Therefore shall ye flee:

And, We will ride upon the swift;

Therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.

17 One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one;

At the rebuke of five shall ye flee:

Till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain,

And as an ensign on an hill.

13 calamity will come upon you suddenly—

like a bulging wall that bursts and falls.

In an instant it will collapse

and come crashing down.

14 You will be smashed like a piece of pottery—

shattered so completely that

there won’t be a piece big enough

to carry coals from a fireplace

or a little water from the well.”

15 This is what the Sovereign Lord,

the Holy One of Israel, says:

“Only in returning to me

and resting in me will you be saved.

In quietness and confidence is your strength.

But you would have none of it.

16 You said, ‘No, we will get our help from Egypt.

They will give us swift horses for riding into battle.’

But the only swiftness you are going to see

is the swiftness of your enemies chasing you!

17 One of them will chase a thousand of you.

Five of them will make all of you flee.

You will be left like a lonely flagpole on a hill

or a tattered banner on a distant mountaintop.”

13 Therefore this iniquity shall be to you

Like a breach ready to fall,

A bulge in a high wall,

Whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant.

14 And He shall break it like the breaking of the potter’s vessel,

Which is broken in pieces;

He shall not spare.

So there shall not be found among its fragments

A shard to take fire from the hearth,

Or to take water from the cistern.”

15 For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:

“In returning and rest you shall be saved;

In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.”

But you would not,

16 And you said, “No, for we will flee on horses”—

Therefore you shall flee!

And, “We will ride on swift horses”—

Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift!

17 One thousand shall flee at the threat of one,

At the threat of five you shall flee,

Till you are left as a pole on top of a mountain

And as a banner on a hill.

13 You are guilty of these things.

So you will be like a high wall with cracks in it

that falls suddenly and breaks into small pieces.

14 You will be like a clay jar that breaks,

smashed into many pieces.

Those pieces will be too small

to take coals from the fire

or to get water from a well.”

15 This is what the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, says:

“If you come back to me and trust me, you will be saved.

If you will be calm and trust me, you will be strong.”

But you don’t want to do that.

16 You say, “No, we need horses to run away on.”

So you will run away on horses.

You say, “We will ride away on fast horses.”

So those who chase you will be fast.

17 One enemy will make threats,

and a thousand of your men will run away.

Five enemies will make threats,

and all of you will run from them.

You will be left alone like a flagpole on a hilltop,

like a banner on a hill.

13 therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a towering wall, whose breaking shall come suddenly in an instant. 14 And he shall break it as the breaking of a potter’s vessel, that is broken in pieces unsparingly; and in the pieces of it there shall not be found a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to scoop water out of the cistern. 15 For thus saith the Lord Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel: In returning and rest shall ye be saved, in quietness and confidence shall be your strength; but ye would not. 16 And ye said, No, but we will flee upon horses, —therefore shall ye flee; and, We will ride upon the swift, —therefore shall they that pursue you be swift. 17 One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as a banner on a hill.

13 That is why your sin will be 

like a high wall with a bulging crack, ready to fall. 

All of a sudden it will fall. 

14 It will break like pottery. 

It will be smashed, and nothing will be left of it. 

No piece will be big enough to carry live coals from a fireplace 

or to dip water from a reservoir. 

15 This is what the Almighty Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: 

You can be saved by returning to me. 

You can have rest. 

You can be strong by being quiet and by trusting me. 

But you don’t want that. 

16 You’ve said, “No, we’ll flee on horses.” 

So you flee. 

You’ve added, “We’ll ride on fast horses.” 

So those who chase you will also be fast. 

17 One thousand people will flee when one person threatens them, 

and you will flee when five threaten you. 

Then you will be left alone 

like a flagpole on top of a mountain, 

like a signpost on a hill. 

13 this iniquity of yours will be

like a spreading breach,

a bulge in a high wall

whose collapse will come in an instant—suddenly!

14 Its collapse will be like the shattering

of a potter’s jar, crushed to pieces,

so that not even a fragment of pottery

will be found among its shattered remains—

no fragment large enough to take fire from a hearth

or scoop water from a cistern.”

15 For the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said:

“You will be delivered by returning and resting;

your strength will lie in quiet confidence.

But you are not willing.”

16 You say, “No!

We will escape on horses”—

therefore you will escape!—

and, “We will ride on fast horses”—

but those who pursue you will be faster.

17 One thousand will flee at the threat of one,

at the threat of five you will flee,

until you alone remain

like a solitary pole on a mountaintop

or a banner on a hill.

13 therefore this iniquity shall become for you

like a break in a high wall, bulging out, and about to collapse,

whose crash comes suddenly, in an instant;

14 its breaking is like that of a potter’s vessel

that is smashed so ruthlessly

that among its fragments not a sherd is found

for taking fire from the hearth,

or dipping water out of the cistern.

15 For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:

In returning and rest you shall be saved;

in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.

But you refused 16 and said,

“No! We will flee upon horses”—

therefore you shall flee!

and, “We will ride upon swift steeds”—

therefore your pursuers shall be swift!

17 A thousand shall flee at the threat of one,

at the threat of five you shall flee,

until you are left

like a flagstaff on the top of a mountain,

like a signal on a hill.

13 therefore this iniquity shall come for you like a breach about to fall,

bulging out on a high wall that breaks suddenly, in an instant.

14 And he breaks it like a vessel of a potter breaks,

that is crushed; he has no compassion,

and no potsherd is found among its fragments to take fire from the hearth,

or to skim water from the cistern.”

15 For the Lord Yahweh, the holy one of Israel, said this:

“In returning and rest you shall be saved;

your strength shall be in quietness and in trust.”

But you were not willing, 16 and you said,

“No! For we will flee on horses!” Therefore you shall flee!

And, “We will ride on swift horses!” Therefore your pursuers shall be swift!

17 One thousand because of a threat of one,

because of a threat of five you shall flee,

until you are left like a flagstaff on top of a mountain,

and like a signal on a hill.

13 Those sins are like cracks in a high wall.

They get bigger and bigger.

Suddenly the wall breaks apart.

Then it quickly falls down.

14 It breaks into small pieces like a clay pot.

It breaks up completely.

Not one piece is left big enough

for taking coals from a fireplace.

Not one piece is left for dipping water out of a well.”

15 The Lord and King is the Holy One of Israel. He says,

“You will find peace and rest

when you turn away from your sins and depend on me.

You will receive the strength you need

when you stay calm and trust in me.

But you do not want to do what I tell you to.

16 You said, ‘No. We’ll escape on horses.’

So you will have to escape!

You said, ‘We’ll ride off on fast horses.’

So those who chase you will use faster horses!

17 When one of them dares you to fight,

a thousand of you will run away.

When five of them dare you,

all of you will run away.

So few of you will be left that you will be

like a flagpole on top of a mountain.

You will be like only one banner on a hill.”

13 Therefore this iniquity will be to you

Like a breach about to fall,

A bulge in a high wall,

Whose collapse comes suddenly in an instant,

14 Whose collapse is like the smashing of a potter’s jar,

So ruthlessly shattered

That a sherd will not be found among its pieces

To take fire from a hearth

Or to scoop water from a cistern.”

15 For thus the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said,

“In repentance and rest you will be saved,

In quietness and trust is your strength.”

But you were not willing,

16 And you said, “No, for we will flee on horses,”

Therefore you shall flee!

“And we will ride on swift horses,”

Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift.

17 One thousand will flee at the threat of one man;

You will flee at the threat of five,

Until you are left as a flag on a mountain top

And as a signal on a hill.