Isaiah 30

1 “Woe [a cry of sorrow, a lament] to the rebellious [stubborn, disobedient] children,” declares the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord of Israel], “to those who carry out a plan [counsel, advice] that is not Mine [from Me, according to My will], who form an alliance [a league, a covering], but against My will [not by My Spirit], heaping up sin [guilt, punishment] upon sin [transgression, iniquity]. word study 2 They set out [to walk, journey] to go down [descend, fall] to Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa] without asking [inquiring, seeking information] My advice [counsel, guidance], to seek shelter [protection, refuge] under Pharaoh’s [the king of Egypt] protection [care, safeguard] and take refuge [trust, flee] in Egypt’s [the land and its people] shade [shadow, protection]. word study 3 But Pharaoh’s [the king of Egypt, a powerful leader] protection [security, stronghold, refuge] will become your shame [disgrace, embarrassment, reproach], and the refuge [safe place, shelter, trust] of Egypt’s [a country in northeastern Africa] shade [shadow, protection, covering] your disgrace [shame, humiliation, confusion]. word study 4 For [because of this reason] though their princes [rulers, leaders] are at Zoan [Tanis, an ancient city in Egypt] and their envoys [messengers, ambassadors] have arrived [reached, come to] in Hanes [possibly Tahpanhes, a place in Egypt], word study 5 everyone will be put to shame [be humiliated, feel guilt] because of a people [nation, Amaw] useless [unprofitable, unable to help] to them. They cannot be of help [provide aid, assist]; they are good for nothing but shame [embarrassment, disgrace] and reproach [scorn, blame].” word study 6 This is the burden [message from God, prophecy] against the beasts [animals, livestock] of the Negev [southern district, south country]: Through a land [region, territory] of hardship [trouble, adversity] and distress [anguish, tight spot], of lioness [fierce lion] and lion [powerful predator], of viper [venomous snake] and flying serpent [deadly reptile], they carry their wealth [riches, treasures] on the backs of donkeys [young asses, colts] and their treasures [storehouse, depository] on the humps [lumps, camel’s hump] of camels [valuable animals], to a people [nation, group] of no profit [no benefit, worthless] to them. word study 7 Egypt’s [the land of the Nile] help is [vanity, emptiness, and unsatisfactory] futile [without purpose or effect] and empty [lacking substance or value]; therefore I have called her Rahab [the sea monster] Who Sits Still [in cessation, pausing from activity, or resting in pride]. word study 8 Go now [at this very moment], write it on a tablet [a polished stone, wood, or metal surface] in their presence [before their eyes, as witnesses] and inscribe it on a scroll [a written document, a book]; it will be for the days to come [the future, the time ahead], a witness [a testimony, a record] forever and ever [without end, eternally]. word study 9 These are rebellious [uncontrolled, against authority] people, deceitful [lying, faithless] children, children [sons, descendants] unwilling [refusing, not consenting] to obey [hear and follow, give heed to] the LORD’s [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] instruction [law, teachings, guidance]. word study 10 They say [tell, command] to the seers [prophets, visionaries], “Stop seeing [perceiving, prophesying] visions [revelations, insights]!” and to the prophets [seers, messengers of God], “Do not prophesy [speak, declare] to us the truth [right things, upright words]! Speak [declare, utter] to us pleasant [smooth, flattering] words; prophesy [speak, foretell] illusions [deceptions, falsehoods]. word study 11 Get out of the way [turn aside, depart from the path]; turn off the road [stop telling us straight, go a different direction]. Rid us of the Holy One [set apart, sacred] of Israel [God’s chosen people]!” word study 12 Therefore [in this manner, thus] this is what the Holy One [set apart, sacred] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, God’s chosen people] says: “Because [for the reason that] you have rejected [spurned, despised] this message [word, thing], trusting [having confidence, faith] in oppression [injury, fraud] and relying [leaning, supporting] on deceit [perverseness, dishonesty], word study 13 this iniquity [moral evil, sin] of yours is like [similar to, comparable with] a breach [gap, rupture] about to fail [ready to fall, on the verge of collapse], a bulge [swelling, protrusion] in a high [lofty, elevated] wall [barrier, fortification], whose collapse [breaking, shattering] will come suddenly [unexpectedly, without warning]— in an instant [moment, suddenness]! word study 14 It will break [shatter completely, smashed to bits] in pieces like a potter’s jar [earthenware vessel], shattered [broken into fragments, crushed] so that no fragment [shard, piece] can be found [discovered, located]. Not a shard [piece of pottery, broken piece] will be found [exist, be present] in the dust [powder, debris] large enough [sufficient, adequate] to scoop [take, remove] the coals [glowing embers, hot ashes] from a hearth [fireplace, burning pit] or to skim [draw, dip] the water [liquid, refreshment] from a cistern [reservoir, water tank].” word study 15 For the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign Master] GOD [Yehovah], the Holy [set apart, sacred] One of Israel, has said: “By repentance [turning away from sin, changing one’s mind] and rest [quiet confidence, trust] you would be saved [delivered, rescued]; your strength [might, power] would lie in quiet [stillness, peace] confidence [faith, trust]— but you were not willing [consenting, acquiescent].” word study 16 “No [not at all, by no means],” you say, “we will flee [escape, run away] on horses [swift steeds, chariot horses].” Therefore you will flee [run away, take flight]! “We will ride [mount, be carried] swift [fast, speedy] horses [warhorses],” but your pursuers [those who chase, follow] will be faster [swifter, more speedy]. word study 17 A thousand [a large company, multitude] will flee at the threat [rebuke, warning] of one [a single person, individual]; at the threat [rebuke, correction] of five [a small group, handful] you will all flee, until you are left alone [remaining, abandoned] like a pole [mast, beacon] on a mountaintop [high mountain, elevated place], like a banner [ensign, signal flag] on a hill [small mountain]. word study 18 Therefore the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] longs to be gracious [show kindness, bend or stoop to help] to you; therefore He rises [is exalted, lifted up] to show you compassion [have mercy, pity], for the LORD [the supreme God] is a just [righteous, God of judgment] God. Blessed [happy, fortunate] are all who wait [patiently, with expectation] for Him. word study 19 O people [living in a covenant relationship] in Zion [the city of God] who dwell [reside, abide] in Jerusalem [the city of peace], you will weep [cry out in sorrow, mourn] no more [never again]. He will surely [certainly, without fail] be gracious [show kindness, have mercy] when you cry [call out, shout] for help [in distress, with a loud voice]; when He hears [listens, gives attention], He will answer [respond, provide an oracle] you. word study 20 The Lord [Adonay, the sovereign Master] will give [bestow, provide] you the bread [food, sustenance] of adversity [trouble, affliction] and the water [source of refreshment, spiritual nourishment] of affliction [oppression, distress], but your Teacher [instructor, guide] will no longer hide [conceal, withdraw] Himself—with your own eyes [spiritual perception, discernment] you will see [behold, perceive] Him. word study 21 And whether you turn [to the right hand, choosing the right path] to the right or [go aside, turning to the left] to the left, your ears [the ability to hear and listen] will hear this command [a word of guidance] behind you: “This [the correct path, the way of life] is the way [the road, the path to follow]. Walk [move, go, or live] in it [this path, this manner of life].” word study 22 So you will desecrate [defile, make unclean] your silver-plated [coated with silver, overlaid with silver] idols [carved images, false gods] and your gold-plated [covered with gold, made of gold] images [molten images, cast metal images]. You will throw them away [cast them out, scatter them] like menstrual cloths [unclean things, polluted garments], saying to them, “Be gone [get out, depart from me]!” word study 23 Then He will send [abundant, life-giving] rain [water from heaven, nourishment] for the seed [offspring, spiritual heritage] that you have sown [planted, scattered] in the ground [earth, soil], and the food [bread, sustenance] that comes from your land [earth, territory] will be [become, exist as] rich [fat, fertile] and plentiful [abundant, overflowing]. On that day [period of time, era] your cattle [livestock, animals] will graze [feed, pasture] in open [wide] pastures [fields, meadows]. word study 24 The oxen [cattle, young bulls] and donkeys [colts, young asses] that work [serve, till] the ground [land, earth] will eat [devour, consume] salted [seasoned, clean] fodder [mixed feed, provender], winnowed [scattered, tossed] with shovel [tool, fork] and pitchfork [fan, winnowing fork]. word study 25 And from every high [lofty, elevated] mountain and every raised [exalted, lifted up] hill, streams [rivers, brooks] of water will flow in the day [time, period] of great [large, abundant] slaughter [killing, destruction], when the towers [strongholds, fortresses] fall [collapse, come down]. word study 26 The light [natural and spiritual illumination] of the moon [lunar body, reflection of God’s glory] will be as bright as the sun [solar body], and the light [radiance, splendor] of the sun will be seven times brighter [intensified, magnified]—like the light [brilliance, resplendence] of seven days—on the day [appointed time, era of restoration] that the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] binds up [heals, restores] the brokenness [shattering, fragmentation] of His people [nation, community] and heals [mends, restores to wholeness] the wounds [injuries, afflictions] He has inflicted [caused, permitted]. word study 27 Behold [look, see], the Name [fame, renown, reputation] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] comes from afar [a distant place, far country], with burning [intensely heated, fierce] anger [indignation, wrath] and dense [thick, heavy] smoke [a rising cloud, burden]. His lips [language, mouth] are full [completely filled] of fury [intense anger, indignation], and His tongue [the instrument of speech] is like [similar to, comparable with] a consuming [devouring, eating] fire [burning, flame]. word study 28 His breath [like a rushing flood, an overflowing stream] is like a rushing torrent [a powerful, overflowing brook] that rises to the neck [the midst of the neck, a point of vulnerability]. He comes to sift [separate, divide] the nations [Gentiles, large groups of people] in a sieve [a tool for separating, a device for destruction] of destruction [vanity, emptiness]; He bridles [puts a restraint on, guides] the jaws [the cheek, the mouth] of the peoples [nations, groups of people] to lead them astray [to cause them to err, to wander]. word study 29 You will sing [with joyful voices, as in a grand celebration] as on the night [of spiritual darkness, or a time of solemn reflection] of a holy festival [a sacred feast, or a time of consecration], and your heart [the innermost part of your being, including your mind, and emotions] will rejoice [experience gladness, or feel deep joy] like one who walks [proceeds, or moves forward] to the music of a flute [a pipe, or a musical instrument], going up [ascending, or approaching] to the mountain [a high place] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God], to the Rock [a rock or boulder; a refuge] of Israel [the people of God, or the descendants of Jacob]. word study 30 And the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] will cause His [glorious] majestic voice [sound, utterance] to be heard and His mighty [powerful, strong] arm [the arm as stretched out; strength, might, power] to be revealed, striking in angry [intense, fierce] wrath [rage, indignation] with a flame [fire, blazing] of consuming [devouring, eating] fire, and with cloudburst [torrential rain], storm [tempest, whirlwind], and hailstones [stones, ice]. word study 31 For [because of this reason] Assyria [the Assyrian empire, a powerful nation] will be shattered [completely broken, dismayed] at the voice [sound, utterance] of the LORD [Yehovah, the sovereign God]; He will strike [hit, smite] them with His scepter [rod]. word study 32 And with every stroke [each blow, every passage] of the rod [staff] of punishment [appointment, discipline] that the LORD [Yehovah, God] brings down [lays upon, rests on] on them, the tambourines [tabrets, musical instruments] and lyres [harps] will sound [be played] as He battles [fights, wages war] with weapons [arm, hand] brandished [with wave offering, shaken]. word study 33 For Topheth [a place of burning, Tophet] has long been prepared [ordained from old, arranged from former time]; it has been made ready [established, prepared] for the king [the King’s, a royal person]. Its funeral pyre [pile of wood, a heap of fuel] is deep [profound, large] and wide [enlarged, spacious], with plenty of fire [burning, flame] and wood [trees, wooden planks]. The breath [spirit, wind] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], like a torrent [stream, brook] of burning sulfur [brimstone, a highly flammable substance], sets it ablaze [kindles, burns]. word study