Isaiah 30:8–22

8 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.

9 They are a rebellious people,

deceptive children,s

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

10 They say to the seers, “Do not see,”

and to the prophets,

“Do not prophesy the truth to us.

Tell us flattering things.t

Prophesy illusions.

11 Get out of the way!

Leave the pathway.

Rid us of the Holy One of Israel.”u

12 Therefore the Holy One of Israel says:

“Because you have rejected this message

and have trusted in oppression and deceit,

and have depended on them,

13 this iniquityv of yours will be

like a crumbling gap,

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,w 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.a

17 One thousand will flee at the threat of one,b

at the threat of five you will flee,

until you remain

like a solitary pole on a mountaintop

or a banner on a hill.

THE LORD’S MERCY TO ISRAEL

18 Therefore the Lord is waiting to show you mercy,

and is rising up to show you compassion,c

for the Lord is a just God.

All who wait patiently for him are happy.

19 For people will live on Zion in Jerusalem. You will never weep again; he will show favor to you at the sound of your outcry; as soon as he hears, he will answer you. 20 The Lord will give you meager bread and water during oppression,d but your TeacherA will not hide any longer. Your eyes will see your Teacher, 21 and whenever you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: “This is the way. Walk in it.”e 22 Then you will defile your silver-plated idols and your gold-plated images. You will throw them away like menstrual cloths, and call them filth.