Isaiah 30:6–11

An oracle on the beasts of the Negeb.

Through a land of trouble and anguish,

from where come the lioness and the lion,

the adder and the flying fiery serpent,

they carry their riches on the backs of donkeys,

and their treasures on the humps of camels,

to a people that cannot profit them.

Egypt’s help is worthless and empty;

therefore I have called her

“Rahab who sits still.”

And now, go, write it before them on a tablet

and inscribe it in a book,

that it may be for the time to come

as a witness forever.

For they are a rebellious people,

lying children,

children unwilling to hear

the instruction of the Lord;

who say to the seers, “Do not see,”

and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us what is right;

speak to us smooth things,

prophesy illusions,

leave the way, turn aside from the path,

let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.”

A prophecy concerning the animals of the Negev:

Through a land of hardship and distress,

of lions and lionesses,

of adders and darting snakes,

the envoys carry their riches on donkeys’ backs,

their treasures on the humps of camels,

to that unprofitable nation,

to Egypt, whose help is utterly useless.

Therefore I call her

Rahab the Do-Nothing.

Go now, write it on a tablet for them,

inscribe it on a scroll,

that for the days to come

it may be an everlasting witness.

For these are rebellious people, deceitful children,

children unwilling to listen to the Lord’s instruction.

They say to the seers,

“See no more visions!”

and to the prophets,

“Give us no more visions of what is right!

Tell us pleasant things,

prophesy illusions.

Leave this way,

get off this path,

and stop confronting us

with the Holy One of Israel!”

A pronouncement concerning the animals of the Negev:

Through a land of trouble and distress,

of lioness and lion,

of viper and flying serpent,

they carry their wealth on the backs of donkeys

and their treasures on the humps of camels,

to a people who will not help them.

Egypt’s help is completely worthless;

therefore, I call her:

Rahab Who Just Sits.

Go now, write it on a tablet in their presence

and inscribe it on a scroll;

it will be for the future,

forever and ever.

They are a rebellious people,

deceptive children,

children who do not want to listen to the Lord’s instruction.

They say to the seers, “Do not see,”

and to the prophets,

“Do not prophesy the truth to us.

Tell us flattering things.

Prophesy illusions.

Get out of the way!

Leave the pathway.

Rid us of the Holy One of Israel.”

This message came to me concerning the animals in the Negev:

The caravan moves slowly

across the terrible desert to Egypt—

donkeys weighed down with riches

and camels loaded with treasure—

all to pay for Egypt’s protection.

They travel through the wilderness,

a place of lionesses and lions,

a place where vipers and poisonous snakes live.

All this, and Egypt will give you nothing in return.

Egypt’s promises are worthless!

Therefore, I call her Rahab—

the Harmless Dragon.

Now go and write down these words.

Write them in a book.

They will stand until the end of time

as a witness

that these people are stubborn rebels

who refuse to pay attention to the Lord’s instructions.

They tell the seers,

“Stop seeing visions!”

They tell the prophets,

“Don’t tell us what is right.

Tell us nice things.

Tell us lies.

Forget all this gloom.

Get off your narrow path.

Stop telling us about your

‘Holy One of Israel.’ ”

An oracle of the animals of the Negev:

Through a land of trouble and distress,

of lioness and lion,

among them are snake and flying serpent;

they carry their wealth on the backs of male donkeys

and their treasures on the humps of camels,

to a people that cannot profit them.

For Egyptians help with vanity and emptiness,

therefore I have called this one “Rahab, they are sitting.”

Now go, write it on a tablet with them,

and inscribe it on a scroll,

that it may be for the time to come,

forever, forever.

For it is a people of rebellion, deceitful children,

children who are not willing to hear the instruction of Yahweh,

who say to those who do see, “You must not see!”

and to the seers, “You must not see truth for us;

speak smooth things to us,

see illusions,

turn aside from the way, turn aside from the path,

put an end to the holy one of Israel from our face.”

The burden of the beasts of the south:

Into the land of trouble and anguish,

From whence come the young and old lion,

The viper and fiery flying serpent,

They will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses,

And their treasures upon the bunches of camels,

To a people that shall not profit them.

For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose:

Therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still.

Now go, write it before them in a table,

And note it in a book,

That it may be for the time to come

For ever and ever:

That this is a rebellious people, lying children,

Children that will not hear the law of the Lord:

Which say to the seers, See not;

And to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things,

Speak unto us smooth things,

Prophesy deceits:

Get you out of the way,

Turn aside out of the path,

Cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.