Isaiah 30:11-15

30:11 Turn aside from the way,

stray off the path. ¹ 

Remove from our presence the Holy One of Israel.” ² 

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

“You have rejected this message; ³ 

you trust instead in your ability to oppress and trick, ⁴ 

and rely on that kind of behavior. ⁵ 

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. ⁶ 

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

so shattered to bits that none of it can be salvaged. ⁷ 

Among its fragments one cannot find a shard large enough ⁸ 

to scoop a hot coal from a fire ⁹ 

or to skim off water from a cistern.” ¹⁰ 

30:15 For this is what the master, the Lord, the Holy One of Israel says:

“If you repented and patiently waited for me, you would be delivered; ¹¹ 

if you calmly trusted in me you would find strength, ¹² 

but you are unwilling.

[30:11]  ¹ sn The imagery refers to the way or path of truth, as revealed by God to the prophet.

[30:11]  ² sn See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.

[30:12]  ³ tn The sentence actually begins with the word “because.” In the Hebrew text vv. 12-13 are one long sentence.

[30:12]  ⁴ tn Heb “and you trust in oppression and cunning.”

[30:12]  ⁵ tn Heb “and you lean on it”; NAB “and depend on it.”

[30:13]  ⁶ 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.

[30:14]  ⁷ 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].”

[30:14]  ⁸ tn The words “large enough” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[30:14]  ⁹ tn Heb “to remove fire from the place of kindling.”

[30:14]  ¹⁰ tn On the meaning of גֶבֶא (geveh, “cistern”) see HALOT 170 s.v.

[30:15]  ¹¹ 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).

[30:15]  ¹² tn Heb “in quietness and in trust is your strength” (NASB and NRSV both similar).