Isaiah

Prophecies about judgment and salvation, promising hope and a savior.

Chapter 30

1 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:

*Oh no for those who disobey, says God, who plan without asking me. They pretend to have my spirit's guidance, but really they just want to increase their wrongdoings.

2 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 go to Egypt for help and don't ask me first. They rely on Pharaoh's power and Egypt's protection instead.

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

*So, Pharaoh's power will make you feel embarrassed, and trusting in Egypt's shadow will confuse you.

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

*His important leaders were in Zoan, and his messengers went to Hanes.

5 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 felt embarrassed by a group who couldn't benefit them, didn't help or bring any good, only causing shame and disgrace.

6 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.

*The southern animals' burden: into a land of trouble and pain, live young and old lions, vipers, and flying fire serpents. They carry their wealth on young donkeys' shoulders and their treasures on camel humps to a people who won't benefit from it.

7 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 will try but fail, so I complain about it because their power only works when they stay put.

8 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, go and write this down in an easy-to-read format and record it in a book. This way, it will last forever and ever for future generations.

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

*This means that the people are disobedient and untruthful, as they refuse to listen to God's laws.

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

*This verse says that people are telling the seers not to see and the prophets not to tell the truth. Instead, they're asking them to say nice things and lie.

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

*Move out of our way, step off the path, make the sacred protector of Israel stop being with us.

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

*So, the Holy One of Israel says this: You reject this message and rely on unfairness and wrongdoing, and you keep doing it.

13 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.

*So, this wrongdoing will be like a weak spot in a wall about to collapse. It will grow and become part of a big wall. The collapse of the wall will happen quickly without warning.

14 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 smash it like a potter's broken bowl, leaving nothing unbroken; and you won't find any piece to get fire from the fireplace or water from the well.

15 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.

*So, God says, "If you return to me, find peace, and trust in me, you'll be saved. But you don't want to."

16 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 said no. You think you'll escape on horses. So, you'll flee. And, you'll ride on fast animals. Therefore, those chasing you will also be fast.

17 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 scolds a thousand will run away. Five people scolding will make you run too. This continues until only a few are left, like a light on a mountain peak and a flag on a hill.

18 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.

*So, the LORD will patiently wait to show kindness to you. He will also be raised in honor so he can have compassion on you. This is because the LORD is a fair God. Blessings go to everyone who patiently waits for Him.

19 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.

*In Zion, at Jerusalem, people will live. You won't need to cry anymore. He will be extremely kind when you call for help. When he hears your call, he will respond to you.

20 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 the Lord gives you difficult times and hardships, your teachers won't be hidden away anymore. Instead, you will clearly see your teachers.

21 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 will hear a voice telling you which way to go, saying, "Follow this path," whether you go right or left.

22 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 will make your carved image's silver coverings unclean, and remove the gold decorations from your melted images. Treat them like a dirty cloth used during a monthly cycle and tell them to leave.

23 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.

*Then, he will provide rain for your planting seeds, allowing you to grow crops in the soil. There will be plenty of food from the Earth's growth, and your animals will graze in big fields.

24 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.

*The oxen and young donkeys eating from the ground will eat clean food, which has been cleaned using a shovel and a fan.

25 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 all tall mountains and high hills, many rivers and streams of water will flow on the day of great destruction when the tall towers crash down.

26 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.

*In addition, the moon's light will be like the sun's light, and the sun's light will be seven times brighter, like seven days of light. This will happen when God fixes the brokenness of his people and heals their wounds.

27 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:

*Look, the Lord's name comes from far away, filled with anger, and it's a heavy load. His lips are full of being upset, and his tongue is like a fire that gobbles things up.

28 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 will flow like a big river, reaching halfway up the neck area. It will sort countries using a silly strainer. People's mouths will have a bit that makes them go astray.

29 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 will have a joyful song during a special holy celebration. Your heart will be filled with happiness, just like when you play music and go up to meet God in the mountains, to the great and powerful ruler of Israel.

30 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.

*And God will make his powerful voice heard, showing his strength by sending lightning. He will display his anger with a burning fire, causing destruction, along with storms, wind, and hail.

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

*Through the LORD's voice, the powerful Assyrian will be defeated, who used a stick to attack.

32 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.

*In all places where the staff touches the ground, God will provide tabrets and harps. This will be used for fighting in shaking battles.

33 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 was planned long ago for the king. It's been made very deep and wide. The pile has fire and lots of wood. God's breath, like a river of burning rocks, lights it up.

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