Isaiah 30:15-18
New English Translation
15 For this is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel says:
“If you repented and patiently waited for me, you would be delivered;[a]
if you calmly trusted in me, you would find strength,[b]
but you are unwilling.
16 You say, ‘No, we will flee on horses,’
so you will indeed flee.
You say, ‘We will ride on fast horses,’
so your pursuers will be fast.
17 One thousand will scurry at the battle cry of one enemy soldier;[c]
at the battle cry of five enemy soldiers you will all run away,[d]
until the remaining few are as isolated[e]
as a flagpole on a mountaintop
or a signal flag on a hill.”
The Lord Will Not Abandon His People
18 For this reason the Lord is ready to show you mercy;
he sits on his throne, ready to have compassion on you.[f]
Indeed, the Lord is a just God;
all who wait for him in faith will be blessed.[g]
Footnotes
- Isaiah 30:15 tn Heb “in returning and in quietness you will be delivered.” Many English versions render the last phrase “shall be saved” or something similar (e.g., NAB, NASB, NRSV).
- Isaiah 30:15 tn Heb “in quietness and in trust is your strength” (NASB and NRSV both similar).
- Isaiah 30:17 tn Heb “One thousand from before [or “because of”] one battle cry.” גְּעָרָה (geʿarah) is often defined as “threat,” but in war contexts it likely refers to a shout or battle cry. See Ps 76:6.
- Isaiah 30:17 tn Heb “from before [or “because of”] the battle cry of five you will flee.
- Isaiah 30:17 tn Heb “until you are left” (so NAB, NASB, NRSV).
- Isaiah 30:18 tn Heb “Therefore the Lord waits to show you mercy, and therefore he is exalted to have compassion on you.” The logical connection between this verse and what precedes is problematic. The point seems to be that Judah’s impending doom does not bring God joy. Rather the prospect of their suffering stirs within him a willingness to show mercy and compassion, if they are willing to seek him on his terms.
- Isaiah 30:18 tn Heb “Blessed are all who wait for him.”
Isaiah 30:15-18
New Living Translation
15 This is what the Sovereign Lord,
the Holy One of Israel, says:
“Only in returning to me
and resting in me will you be saved.
In quietness and confidence is your strength.
But you would have none of it.
16 You said, ‘No, we will get our help from Egypt.
They will give us swift horses for riding into battle.’
But the only swiftness you are going to see
is the swiftness of your enemies chasing you!
17 One of them will chase a thousand of you.
Five of them will make all of you flee.
You will be left like a lonely flagpole on a hill
or a tattered banner on a distant mountaintop.”
Blessings for the Lord’s People
18 So the Lord must wait for you to come to him
so he can show you his love and compassion.
For the Lord is a faithful God.
Blessed are those who wait for his help.
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Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
