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.(A)
17 One thousand will flee at the threat of one,(B)
at the threat of five you will flee,
until you remain
like a solitary pole on a mountaintop
or a banner on a hill.

The Lord’s Mercy to Israel

18 Therefore the Lord is waiting to show you mercy,
and is rising up to show you compassion,(C)
for the Lord is a just God.
All who wait patiently for him are happy.

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15 For this is what the Lord[a] God,[b] the Holy One of Israel, says:

“In repentance and rest you will be saved;
    in staying calm and trusting will be your strength.
        But you refused.
16 Instead, you said,
    ‘No! We’ll escape on horses!’
        Therefore, you’ll flee away.
And you said,
    ‘We’ll ride off on swift steeds!’
        Therefore your pursuers will be swift.
17 A thousand will flee at the threat of one;
    and run away, pursued by[c] five,
until you are left
    like a flagpole on a mountaintop,[d]
        like a banner on a hill.”

Restoration is Promised to Israel

18 “Nevertheless, the Lord will wait
    so he can be gracious to you;
        and thus he will rise up to show you mercy.
For the Lord is a God of justice.
    How blessed are all those who wait for him.”

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 30:15 So 1QIsaa
  2. Isaiah 30:15 So 1QIsaa corrector
  3. Isaiah 30:17 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read away at the threat of
  4. Isaiah 30:17 So 1QIsaa LXX; MT reads the mountaintop