Isaiah 30:14–16

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!

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

14 And he shall break it as a potter’s vessel is broken, breaking it in pieces without sparing; so that there shall not be found among the pieces thereof a sherd wherewith to take fire from the hearth, or to dip up water out of the cistern. 15 For thus said the Lord Jehovah, 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.

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.

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. 

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.

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!

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!

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!