Now go, (A)write it on a tablet in their presence
And inscribe it on a scroll,
That it may [a]serve in the time to come
[b]As a witness forever.
For this is a (B)rebellious people, (C)false sons,
Sons who [c]refuse to (D)listen
To the [d]instruction of the Lord;
10 Who say to the (E)seers, “You must not see visions”;
And to the prophets, “You must not (F)prophesy the truth to us.
(G)Speak to us [e]pleasant words,
Prophesy illusions.
11 Get out of the way, (H)turn aside from the path,
(I)Stop speaking before us about the Holy One of Israel!”

12 Therefore this is what the Holy One of Israel says:

(J)Since you have rejected this word
And have put your trust in (K)oppression and crookedness, and have relied on them,
13 Therefore this (L)wrongdoing will be to you
Like a (M)breach about to fall,
A bulge in a high wall,
Whose collapse comes (N)suddenly in an instant,
14 Whose collapse is like the smashing of a (O)potter’s jar,
[f]So ruthlessly shattered
That a shard will not be found among its pieces
To [g]take fire from a hearth
Or to scoop water from a cistern.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 30:8 Lit be
  2. Isaiah 30:8 As in most ancient versions; MT Forever and ever
  3. Isaiah 30:9 Lit are not willing
  4. Isaiah 30:9 Or Law
  5. Isaiah 30:10 Lit smooth things
  6. Isaiah 30:14 Lit Crushed, it will not be spared
  7. Isaiah 30:14 Lit snatch up

A Rebellious People

And now, go, write it before them on a tablet,
    and inscribe it in a book,
that it may be for the time to come
    as a witness for ever.
For they are a rebellious people,
    lying sons,
sons who will not hear
    the instruction of the Lord;
10 who say to the seers, “See not”;
    and to the prophets, “Prophesy not to us what is right;
speak to us smooth things,
    prophesy illusions,
11 leave the way, turn aside from the path,
    let us hear no more of the Holy One of Israel.”
12 Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel,
“Because you despise this word,
    and trust in oppression and perverseness,
    and rely on them;
13 therefore this iniquity shall be to you
    like a break in a high wall, bulging out, and about to collapse,
    whose crash comes suddenly, in an instant;
14 and its breaking is like that of a potter’s vessel
    which is smashed so ruthlessly
that among its fragments not a sherd is found
    with which to take fire from the hearth,
    or to dip up water out of the cistern.”

Read full chapter