Isaiah 30:1–7

The Lord Will Judge His Stubborn People

30“How terrible it will be for these stubborn children of mine!”

announces the Lord.

“How terrible for those who carry out plans that did not come from me!

Their agreement with Egypt did not come from my Spirit.

So they pile up one sin on top of another.

²They go down to Egypt

without asking me for advice.

They look to Pharaoh to help them.

They ask Egypt to keep them safe.

³But looking to Pharaoh will only bring them shame.

Asking Egypt for help will bring them dishonor.

⁴Their officials have gone to the city of Zoan.

Their messengers have arrived in Hanes.

⁵But the people of Judah will be put to shame

because they are trusting in a nation that is useless to them.

Egypt will not bring them any help or advantage.

Instead, it will bring them shame and dishonor.”

⁶Here is a message the Lord gave me about the animals in the Negev Desert.

Judah’s messengers carry their riches on the backs of donkeys.

They carry their treasures on the humps of camels.

They travel through a land of danger and suffering.

It’s a land that is filled with lions.

Poisonous snakes are also there.

The messengers travel to a nation

that can’t do them any good.

⁷They travel to Egypt, whose help is totally useless.

That’s why I call it Rahab the Do-Nothing.