A Rebellious People

8 Now go, kwrite it before them on a tablet,

And note it on a scroll,

That it may be for time to come,

Forever and ever:

9 That lthis is a rebellious people,

Lying children,

Children who will not hear the law of the Lord;

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

And to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us right things;

nSpeak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits.

11 Get out of the way,

Turn aside from the path,

Cause the Holy One of Israel

To cease from before us.”

12 Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel:

“Because you odespise this word,

And trust in oppression and perversity,

And rely on them,

13 Therefore this iniquity shall be to you

pLike a breach ready to fall,

A bulge in a high wall,

Whose breaking qcomes suddenly, in an instant.

14 And rHe 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

4A 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:

s“In returning and rest you shall be saved;

In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.”

tBut 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!

17 uOne thousand shall flee at the threat of one,

At the threat of five you shall flee,

Till you are left as a 5pole on top of a mountain

And as a banner on a hill.