Isaiah 30:9-14

30:9 For these are rebellious people –

they are lying children,

children unwilling to obey the Lord’s law.

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

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

Tell us nice things,

relate deceptive messages.

30:11 Turn aside from the way,

stray off the path.

Remove from our presence the Holy One of Israel.”

30:12 For this reason this is what the Holy One of Israel says:

“You have rejected this message;

you trust instead in your ability to oppress and trick,

and rely on that kind of behavior.

30:13 So this sin will become your downfall.

You will be like a high wall

that bulges and cracks and is ready to collapse;

it crumbles suddenly, in a flash. 10 

30:14 It shatters in pieces like a clay jar,

so shattered to bits that none of it can be salvaged. 11 

Among its fragments one cannot find a shard large enough 12 

to scoop a hot coal from a fire 13 

or to skim off water from a cistern.” 14 


tn Or perhaps, “instruction” (so NASB, NIV, NRSV); NCV, TEV “teachings.”

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

tn Heb “Do not see for us right things.”

tn Heb “Tell us smooth things, see deceptive things.”

sn The imagery refers to the way or path of truth, as revealed by God to the prophet.

sn See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.

tn The sentence actually begins with the word “because.” In the Hebrew text vv. 12-13 are one long sentence.

tn Heb “and you trust in oppression and cunning.”

tn Heb “and you lean on it”; NAB “and depend on it.”

10 tn The verse reads literally, “So this sin will become for you like a breach ready to fall, bulging on a high wall, the breaking of which comes suddenly, in a flash.” Their sin produces guilt and will result in judgment. Like a wall that collapses their fall will be swift and sudden.

11 tn Heb “Its shattering is like the shattering of a jug of [i.e., “made by”] potters, [so] shattered one cannot save [any of it].”

12 tn The words “large enough” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

13 tn Heb “to remove fire from the place of kindling.”

14 tn On the meaning of גֶבֶא (geveh, “cistern”) see HALOT 170 s.v.