Isaiah 30:7–21

7 Even Egypt, whose ahelp is vain and empty.

Therefore, I have called 1her

“2bRahab who has been exterminated.”

8 Now go, awrite it on a tablet before them

And inscribe it on a scroll,

That it may 1serve in the time to come

2As a witness forever.

9 For this is a arebellious people, bfalse sons,

Sons who 1refuse to clisten

To the 2instruction of the Lord;

10 Who say to the aseers, “You must not see visions”;

And to the prophets, “You must not bprophesy to us what is right,

cSpeak to us 1pleasant words,

Prophesy illusions.

11 “Get out of the way, aturn aside from the path,

1bLet us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.”

12 Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel,

“aSince you have rejected this word

And have put your trust in boppression and guile, and have relied on them,

13 Therefore this ainiquity will be to you

Like a bbreach about to fall,

A bulge in a high wall,

Whose collapse comes csuddenly in an instant,

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

1So ruthlessly shattered

That a sherd will not be found among its pieces

To 2take fire from a hearth

Or to scoop water from a cistern.”

15 For thus the Lord 1God, the Holy One of Israel, has said,

“In 2repentance and arest you will be saved,

In bquietness and trust is your strength.”

But you were not willing,

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

Therefore you shall flee!

“And we will ride on swift horses,”

Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift.

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

You will flee at the threat of five,

Until you are left as a 1flag on a mountain top

And as a signal on a hill.

God Is Gracious and Just

18 Therefore the Lord 1alongs to be gracious to you,

And therefore He 2waits on bhigh to have compassion on you.

For the Lord is a cGod of justice;

How blessed are all those who 3dlong for Him.

19 1O people in Zion, ainhabitant in Jerusalem, you will bweep no longer. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will canswer you.

20 Although the Lord has given you abread of privation and water of oppression, He, your Teacher will no longer bhide Himself, but your eyes will behold your Teacher.

21 Your ears will hear a word behind you, “1This is the away, walk in it,” whenever you bturn to the right or to the left.