Isaiah 30:10

30:10 They ¹  say to the visionaries, “See no more visions!”

and to the seers, “Don’t relate messages to us about what is right! ² 

Tell us nice things,

relate deceptive messages. ³ 

Isaiah 30:2

30:2 They travel down to Egypt

without seeking my will, ⁴ 

seeking Pharaoh’s protection,

and looking for safety in Egypt’s protective shade. ⁵ 

Isaiah 2:19

2:19 They ⁶  will go into caves in the rocky cliffs

and into holes in the ground, ⁷ 

trying to escape the dreadful judgment of the Lord ⁸ 

and his royal splendor,

when he rises up to terrify the earth. ⁹ 

[30:10]  ¹ tn Heb “who” (so NASB, NRSV). A new sentence was started here in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[30:10]  ² tn Heb “Do not see for us right things.”

[30:10]  ³ tn Heb “Tell us smooth things, see deceptive things.”

[30:2]  ⁴ tn Heb “those who go to descend to Egypt, but [of] my mouth they do not inquire.”

[30:2]  ⁵ tn Heb “to seek protection in the protection of Pharaoh, and to seek refuge in the shade of Egypt.”

[2:19]  ⁶ tn The identity of the grammatical subject is unclear. The “idols” could be the subject; they will “go” into the caves and holes when the idolaters throw them there in their haste to escape God’s judgment (see vv. 20-21). The picture of the idols, which represent the foreign deities worshiped by the people, fleeing from the Lord would be highly polemical and fit the overall mood of the chapter. However it seems more likely that the idolaters themselves are the subject, for v. 10 uses similar language in sarcastically urging them to run from judgment.

[2:19]  ⁷ tn Heb “dust”; ASV “into the holes of the earth.”

[2:19]  ⁸ tn Heb “from the dread of the Lord,” that is, from the dread that he produces in the objects of his judgment.” The words “trying to escape” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[2:19]  ⁹ tn Or “land.” It is not certain if these verses are describing the judgment of Judah (see vv. 6-9) or a more universal judgment on all proud men.