Isaiah 30:1–7

“Ah, stubborn children,” declares the Lord,

“who carry out a plan, but not mine,

and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit,

that they may add sin to sin;

who set out to go down to Egypt,

without asking for my direction,

to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh

and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt!

Therefore shall the protection of Pharaoh turn to your shame,

and the shelter in the shadow of Egypt to your humiliation.

For though his officials are at Zoan

and his envoys reach Hanes,

everyone comes to shame

through a people that cannot profit them,

that brings neither help nor profit,

but shame and disgrace.”

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.”

“Woe to the obstinate children,”

declares the Lord,

“to those who carry out plans that are not mine,

forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit,

heaping sin upon sin;

who go down to Egypt

without consulting me;

who look for help to Pharaoh’s protection,

to Egypt’s shade for refuge.

But Pharaoh’s protection will be to your shame,

Egypt’s shade will bring you disgrace.

Though they have officials in Zoan

and their envoys have arrived in Hanes,

everyone will be put to shame

because of a people useless to them,

who bring neither help nor advantage,

but only shame and disgrace.”

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.

Woe to the rebellious children!

This is the Lord’s declaration.

They carry out a plan, but not mine;

they make an alliance,

but against my will,

piling sin on top of sin.

Without asking my advice

they set out to go down to Egypt

in order to seek shelter under Pharaoh’s protection

and take refuge in Egypt’s shadow.

But Pharaoh’s protection will become your shame,

and refuge in Egypt’s shadow your humiliation.

For though his princes are at Zoan

and his messengers reach as far as Hanes,

everyone will be ashamed

because of a people who can’t help.

They are of no benefit, they are no help;

they are good for nothing but shame and disgrace.

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.

“What sorrow awaits my rebellious children,”

says the Lord.

“You make plans that are contrary to mine.

You make alliances not directed by my Spirit,

thus piling up your sins.

For without consulting me,

you have gone down to Egypt for help.

You have put your trust in Pharaoh’s protection.

You have tried to hide in his shade.

But by trusting Pharaoh, you will be humiliated,

and by depending on him, you will be disgraced.

For though his power extends to Zoan

and his officials have arrived in Hanes,

all who trust in him will be ashamed.

He will not help you.

Instead, he will disgrace you.”

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.

Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord,

That take counsel, but not of me;

And that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit,

That they may add sin to sin:

That walk to go down into Egypt,

And have not asked at my mouth;

To strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh,

And to trust in the shadow of Egypt!

Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame,

And the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.

For his princes were at Zoan,

And his ambassadors came to Hanes.

They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them,

Nor be an help nor profit,

But a shame, and also a reproach.

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.