Isaiah 30:15-17

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; ¹ 

if you calmly trusted in me you would find strength, ² 

but you are unwilling.

30:16 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.

30:17 One thousand will scurry at the battle cry of one enemy soldier; ³ 

at the battle cry of five enemy soldiers you will all run away, ⁴ 

until the remaining few are as isolated ⁵ 

as a flagpole on a mountaintop

or a signal flag on a hill.”

[30:15]  ¹ 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]  ² tn Heb “in quietness and in trust is your strength” (NASB and NRSV both similar).

[30:17]  ³ tn Heb “One thousand from before [or “because of”] one battle cry.” גְּעָרָה (gÿ’arah) is often defined as “threat,” but in war contexts it likely refers to a shout or battle cry. See Ps 76:6.

[30:17]  ⁴ tn Heb “from before [or “because of”] the battle cry of five you will flee.

[30:17]  ⁵ tn Heb “until you are left” (so NAB, NASB, NRSV).