Isaiah 30

Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:

Alas, for the defiant children, says the Lord, who seek advice but not from me; who seek shelter in alliances, but not from my spirit, only to pile sin upon sin.

That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!

Those who journey to Egypt without seeking my guidance, who rely on Pharaoh's power and find comfort in Egypt's protection, beware!

Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.

Relying on Pharaoh's power will only bring you embarrassment, and placing your faith in Egypt's protection will end in your disgrace.

For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to Hanes.

His leaders gathered in Zoan, while his representatives journeyed to Hanes.

They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them, nor be an help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.

They all felt deeply embarrassed by a group that couldn't benefit or assist them in any way, but only brought shame and disgrace.

The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.

A prophecy about the animals of the south: into a land of hardship and pain, where both young and old lions, snakes, and fiery flying serpents come from, they will transport their wealth on the backs of young donkeys, and their treasures on camel humps, to a people who won't benefit them.

For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still.

The Egyptians' assistance will be futile and pointless. That is why I have proclaimed this about them: their power lies in sitting still.

Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:

Now, take a moment to pen it down on a tablet, and inscribe it in a book. Let it serve as a timeless guide for all future generations.

That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:

These people are defiant, dishonest offspring, kids who refuse to listen to the Lord's teachings.

Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:

They tell the visionaries, "Don't see," and the prophets, "Don't tell us the truth. Speak to us comforting lies, tell us what we want to hear, even if it's false."

Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.

Step aside, change your course, stop making us confront the Holy One of Israel.

Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon:

Thus, the Sacred One of Israel proclaims, "Because you scorn my teachings, and trust in cruelty and deceit, leaning on them for support,

Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.

This sin will be like a crack in a towering wall, ready to crumble, its collapse coming swiftly and unexpectedly.

And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters’ vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit.

He will shatter it like a potter's jar, showing no mercy, leaving it so destroyed that not a single piece will be left to carry fire or draw water.

For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.

The Lord God, the Sacred One of Israel, declares: "In coming back and finding peace, you will find salvation. In silence and trust, you will find your power. But you refused."

But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.

But you refused, insisting on escaping on horses. So, indeed, you will have to run. You vowed to ride the fastest steeds, so those chasing you will be just as fast.

One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill.

When one person stands against a thousand, they will scatter in fear. If five stand strong, you too will run until you're the last one standing, visible for all like a lighthouse on a mountain peak or a flag on a hilltop.

And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.

The Lord is patient, wanting to shower you with grace. He stands tall, ready to show you mercy. He is a fair God, and those who patiently trust in Him are truly blessed.

For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.

People will live peacefully in Zion, in Jerusalem. Your tears will cease, for God will show immense kindness when He hears your plea. He will respond when He hears your cry.

And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:

Even if God gives you tough times and hardships, your mentors won't abandon you. Instead, you'll clearly see their guidance.

And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

You'll feel a gentle whisper guiding you, saying, "This is the path, follow it," whether you veer right or left.

Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence.

You must reject the false allure of your silver idols and the deceptive beauty of your golden images. Treat them like a dirty rag; tell them, "You have no place here."

Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures.

He will bless your seeds with abundant rain, allowing you to sow fertile fields. Your harvest will be rich and plentiful, providing ample bread. On that day, your livestock will graze in vast, lush pastures.

The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan.

Even the oxen and young donkeys, who work the soil, will enjoy pure, well-prepared food, carefully cleaned with a shovel and fan.

And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.

On the day of the great slaughter, when the mighty towers crumble, rivers and streams of water will flow on every tall mountain and every high hill.

Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.

When God mends the brokenness of His people and heals their deepest wounds, the moon will shine as brightly as the sun, and the sun will blaze seven times stronger, like a week's worth of daylight in one day.

Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire:

See, God's name approaches from a distance, ablaze with His fury. His wrath is a weighty load. His words are filled with intense displeasure, His voice like a consuming fire.

And his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err.

His breath, like a river in flood, will rise up to their necks, sifting the nations in a sieve of emptiness. It will be like a bridle in the people's jaws, steering them off course.

Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the LORD, to the mighty One of Israel.

You'll carry a joyful song in your heart, like the sacred melodies sung in the quiet of the night. Your spirit will be as happy as when one plays a flute, climbing the mountain to meet the powerful Lord of Israel.

And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones.

God will make His powerful voice heard, displaying His mighty strength. His anger will be like a raging fire, a storm scattering everything, with hailstones falling.

For through the voice of the LORD shall the Assyrian be beaten down, which smote with a rod.

Through God's command, the violent Assyrian will be defeated, the one who struck with a stick.

And in every place where the grounded staff shall pass, which the LORD shall lay upon him, it shall be with tabrets and harps: and in battles of shaking will he fight with it.

With every stroke of the appointed rod that the Lord brings down on Assyria, there will be the music of tambourines and harps. He will fight against them in tumultuous battles with weapons brandished.

For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.

Tophet, a place of judgment, has been destined since ancient times. It's been prepared for the king, made vast and deep. It's filled with fire and abundant wood, ignited by the powerful breath of the Lord, like a river of burning sulfur.