The prophets
The Judgment on Rebellious Judah and the Downfall of Assyria
A continuous prophetic narrative that begins with a sharp judgment against Judah's rebellion and their futile alliance with Egypt, then shifts focus to a promise of God's salvation for those who wait on Him, and concludes with a detailed description of the Lord's wrath against the king of Assyria and his destruction at Topheth.
Isaiah 30,1-33
1Woe to the rebellious children, declares the LORD, who carry out plans that are not mine, who forge alliances without my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin.
ה֣וֹי בָּנִ֤ים סֽוֹרְרִים֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה לַעֲשׂ֤וֹת עֵצָה֙ וְלֹ֣א מִנִּ֔י וְלִנְסֹ֥ךְ מַסֵּכָ֖ה וְלֹ֣א רוּחִ֑י לְמַ֛עַן סְפ֥וֹת חַטָּ֖את עַל־חַטָּֽאת׃
2They go down to Egypt without asking my counsel, seeking refuge in Pharaoh's stronghold, shelter in Egypt's shadow.
הַהֹלְכִים֙ לָרֶ֣דֶת מִצְרַ֔יִם וּפִ֖י לֹ֣א שָׁאָ֑לוּ לָעוֹז֙ בְּמָע֣וֹז פַּרְעֹ֔ה וְלַחְס֖וֹת בְּצֵ֥ל מִצְרָֽיִם׃
3But Pharaoh's stronghold will bring you shame, and Egypt's shadow nothing but disgrace.
וְהָיָ֥ה לָכֶ֛ם מָע֥וֹז פַּרְעֹ֖ה לְבֹ֑שֶׁת וְהֶחָס֥וּת בְּצֵל־מִצְרַ֖יִם לִכְלִמָּֽה׃
4Though his officials are in Zoan and his envoys reach as far as Hanes,
כִּֽי־הָי֥וּ בְצֹ֖עַן שָׂרָ֑יו וּמַלְאָכָ֖יו חָנֵ֥ס יַגִּֽיעוּ׃
5they will all be put to shame because of a people who cannot help them, who bring no aid and no advantage, only shame and reproach.
כֹּ֣ל *הבאיש **הֹבִ֔ישׁ עַל־עַ֖ם לֹא־יוֹעִ֣ילוּ לָ֑מוֹ לֹ֤א לְעֵ֙זֶר֙ וְלֹ֣א לְהוֹעִ֔יל כִּ֥י לְבֹ֖שֶׁת וְגַם־לְחֶרְפָּֽה׃ ס
6An oracle concerning the beasts of the Negev: Through a land of trouble and distress, where lioness and lion prowl, where viper and darting serpent dwell, they carry their wealth on the shoulders of young donkeys and their treasures on the humps of camels, to a people who cannot help.
מַשָּׂ֖א בַּהֲמ֣וֹת נֶ֑גֶב בְּאֶרֶץ֩ צָרָ֨ה וְצוּקָ֜ה לָבִ֧יא וָלַ֣יִשׁ מֵהֶ֗ם אֶפְעֶה֙ וְשָׂרָ֣ף מְעוֹפֵ֔ף יִשְׂאוּ֩ עַל־כֶּ֨תֶף עֲיָרִ֜ים חֵֽילֵהֶ֗ם וְעַל־דַּבֶּ֤שֶׁת גְּמַלִּים֙ אֽוֹצְרֹתָ֔ם עַל־עַ֖ם לֹ֥א יוֹעִֽילוּ׃
7Egypt's help is worthless and empty. That is why I have called her Rahab who sits idle.
וּמִצְרַ֕יִם הֶ֥בֶל וָרִ֖יק יַעְזֹ֑רוּ לָכֵן֙ קָרָ֣אתִי לָזֹ֔את רַ֥הַב הֵ֖ם שָֽׁבֶת׃
8Now go, write it on a tablet before them, inscribe it in a book, that it may stand for the days to come, a witness forever.
עַתָּ֗ה בּ֣וֹא כָתְבָ֥הּ עַל־ל֛וּחַ אִתָּ֖ם וְעַל־סֵ֣פֶר חֻקָּ֑הּ וּתְהִי֙ לְי֣וֹם אַחֲר֔וֹן לָעַ֖ד עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃
9For they are a defiant people, lying children, children unwilling to hear the instruction of the LORD.
כִּ֣י עַ֤ם מְרִי֙ ה֔וּא בָּנִ֖ים כֶּחָשִׁ֑ים בָּנִ֕ים לֹֽא־אָב֥וּ שְׁמ֖וֹעַ תּוֹרַ֥ת יְהוָֽה׃
10They say to the seers, "See nothing," and to the prophets, "Do not tell us what is right. Speak to us smooth words; prophesy illusions.
אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָמְר֤וּ לָֽרֹאִים֙ לֹ֣א תִרְא֔וּ וְלַ֣חֹזִ֔ים לֹ֥א תֶחֱזוּ־לָ֖נוּ נְכֹח֑וֹת דַּבְּרוּ־לָ֣נוּ חֲלָק֔וֹת חֲז֖וּ מַהֲתַלּֽוֹת׃
11"Get out of the way, turn aside from the path, and let us hear no more of the Holy One of Israel."
ס֚וּרוּ מִנֵּי־דֶ֔רֶךְ הַטּ֖וּ מִנֵּי־אֹ֑רַח הַשְׁבִּ֥יתוּ מִפָּנֵ֖ינוּ אֶת־קְד֥וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ ס
12Therefore this is what the Holy One of Israel says: Because you have rejected this word and trusted instead in oppression and deceit, leaning on them for support,
לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ קְד֣וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל יַ֥עַן מָֽאָסְכֶ֖ם בַּדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה וַֽתִּבְטְחוּ֙ בְּעֹ֣שֶׁק וְנָל֔וֹז וַתִּֽשָּׁעֲנ֖וּ עָלָֽיו׃
13this guilt of yours will be like a bulging crack in a high wall, ready to fall, whose collapse comes suddenly, in an instant.
לָכֵ֗ן יִֽהְיֶ֤ה לָכֶם֙ הֶעָוֺ֣ן הַזֶּ֔ה כְּפֶ֣רֶץ נֹפֵ֔ל נִבְעֶ֖ה בְּחוֹמָ֣ה נִשְׂגָּבָ֑ה אֲשֶׁר־פִּתְאֹ֥ם לְפֶ֖תַע יָב֥וֹא שִׁבְרָֽהּ׃
14It will shatter like a potter's jar, smashed so ruthlessly that no fragment is left big enough to carry coals from a hearth or to scoop water from a cistern.
וּ֠שְׁבָרָהּ כְּשֵׁ֨בֶר נֵ֧בֶל יוֹצְרִ֛ים כָּת֖וּת לֹ֣א יַחְמֹ֑ל וְלֹֽא־יִמָּצֵ֤א בִמְכִתָּתוֹ֙ חֶ֔רֶשׂ לַחְתּ֥וֹת אֵשׁ֙ מִיָּק֔וּד וְלַחְשֹׂ֥ף מַ֖יִם מִגֶּֽבֶא׃ פ
15For this is what the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, says: In returning and rest you will be saved; in quietness and trust will be your strength. But you were not willing.
כִּ֣י כֹֽה־אָמַר֩ אֲדֹנָ֨י יְהוִ֜ה קְד֣וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל בְּשׁוּבָ֤ה וָנַ֙חַת֙ תִּוָּ֣שֵׁע֔וּן בְּהַשְׁקֵט֙ וּבְבִטְחָ֔ה תִּהְיֶ֖ה גְּבֽוּרַתְכֶ֑ם וְלֹ֖א אֲבִיתֶֽם׃
16You said, "No, we will flee on horses" — therefore you will flee! — "we will ride swift steeds" — therefore your pursuers will be swift!
וַתֹּ֨אמְר֥וּ לֹא־כִ֛י עַל־ס֥וּס נָנ֖וּס עַל־כֵּ֣ן תְּנוּס֑וּן וְעַל־קַ֣ל נִרְכָּ֔ב עַל־כֵּ֖ן יִקַּ֥לּוּ רֹדְפֵיכֶֽם׃
17A thousand of you will run from the threat of one; at the threat of five you will all take flight, until you are left like a flagpole on a mountaintop, like a banner on a hill.
אֶ֣לֶף אֶחָ֗ד מִפְּנֵי֙ גַּעֲרַ֣ת אֶחָ֔ד מִפְּנֵ֛י גַּעֲרַ֥ת חֲמִשָּׁ֖ה תָּנֻ֑סוּ עַ֣ד אִם־נוֹתַרְתֶּ֗ם כַּתֹּ֙רֶן֙ עַל־רֹ֣אשׁ הָהָ֔ר וְכַנֵּ֖ס עַל־הַגִּבְעָֽה׃
18Yet the LORD waits to show you grace; he rises up to have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him.
וְלָכֵ֞ן יְחַכֶּ֤ה יְהוָה֙ לַֽחֲנַנְכֶ֔ם וְלָכֵ֥ן יָר֖וּם לְרַֽחֶמְכֶ֑ם כִּֽי־אֱלֹהֵ֤י מִשְׁפָּט֙ יְהוָ֔ה אַשְׁרֵ֖י כָּל־ח֥וֹכֵי לֽוֹ׃ ס
19People of Zion, who dwell in Jerusalem, you will weep no longer. He will surely be gracious to you when you cry for help; the moment he hears, he will answer you.
כִּי־עַ֛ם בְּצִיּ֥וֹן יֵשֵׁ֖ב בִּירֽוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם בָּכ֣וֹ לֹֽא־תִבְכֶּ֗ה חָנ֤וֹן יָחְנְךָ֙ לְק֣וֹל זַעֲקֶ֔ךָ כְּשָׁמְעָת֖וֹ עָנָֽךְ׃
20Though the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your Teacher will hide himself no longer; with your own eyes you will see your Teacher.
וְנָתַ֨ן לָכֶ֧ם אֲדֹנָ֛י לֶ֥חֶם צָ֖ר וּמַ֣יִם לָ֑חַץ וְלֹֽא־יִכָּנֵ֥ף עוֹד֙ מוֹרֶ֔יךָ וְהָי֥וּ עֵינֶ֖יךָ רֹא֥וֹת אֶת־מוֹרֶֽיךָ׃
21And your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, "This is the way; walk in it," whenever you turn to the right or to the left.
וְאָזְנֶ֙יךָ֙ תִּשְׁמַ֣עְנָה דָבָ֔ר מֵֽאַחֲרֶ֖יךָ לֵאמֹ֑ר זֶ֤ה הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ לְכ֣וּ ב֔וֹ כִּ֥י תַאֲמִ֖ינוּ וְכִ֥י תַשְׂמְאִֽילוּ׃
22Then you will treat as filth your silver-plated idols and your gold-covered images. You will throw them away like a defiled rag and say, "Be gone!"
וְטִמֵּאתֶ֗ם אֶת־צִפּוּי֙ פְּסִילֵ֣י כַסְפֶּ֔ךָ וְאֶת־אֲפֻדַּ֖ת מַסֵּכַ֣ת זְהָבֶ֑ךָ תִּזְרֵם֙ כְּמ֣וֹ דָוָ֔ה צֵ֖א תֹּ֥אמַר לֽוֹ׃
23He will send rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and bread from the yield of the soil, rich and abundant. On that day your cattle will graze in broad pastures.
וְנָתַן֩ מְטַ֨ר זַרְעֲךָ֜ אֲשֶׁר־תִּזְרַ֣ע אֶת־הָאֲדָמָ֗ה וְלֶ֙חֶם֙ תְּבוּאַ֣ת הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה וְהָיָ֥ה דָשֵׁ֖ן וְשָׁמֵ֑ן יִרְעֶ֥ה מִקְנֶ֛יךָ בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא כַּ֥ר נִרְחָֽב׃
24The oxen and donkeys that work the ground will eat seasoned fodder, winnowed with shovel and fork.
וְהָאֲלָפִ֣ים וְהָעֲיָרִ֗ים עֹֽבְדֵי֙ הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה בְּלִ֥יל חָמִ֖יץ יֹאכֵ֑לוּ אֲשֶׁר־זֹרֶ֥ה בָרַ֖חַת וּבַמִּזְרֶֽה׃
25On every high mountain and every lofty hill there will be streams of running water, on the day of great slaughter, when the towers fall.
וְהָיָ֣ה ׀ עַל־כָּל־הַ֣ר גָּבֹ֗הַ וְעַל֙ כָּל־גִּבְעָ֣ה נִשָּׂאָ֔ה פְּלָגִ֖ים יִבְלֵי־מָ֑יִם בְּיוֹם֙ הֶ֣רֶג רָ֔ב בִּנְפֹ֖ל מִגְדָּלִֽים׃
26The light of the moon will be like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven days, on the day the LORD binds up the wounds of his people and heals the bruises he has inflicted.
וְהָיָ֤ה אֽוֹר־הַלְּבָנָה֙ כְּא֣וֹר הַֽחַמָּ֔ה וְא֤וֹר הַֽחַמָּה֙ יִהְיֶ֣ה שִׁבְעָתַ֔יִם כְּא֖וֹר שִׁבְעַ֣ת הַיָּמִ֑ים בְּי֗וֹם חֲבֹ֤שׁ יְהוָה֙ אֶת־שֶׁ֣בֶר עַמּ֔וֹ וּמַ֥חַץ מַכָּת֖וֹ יִרְפָּֽא׃ ס
27See, the name of the LORD comes from far away, his anger burning, his burden heavy. His lips are full of fury, and his tongue is a devouring fire.
הִנֵּ֤ה שֵׁם־יְהוָה֙ בָּ֣א מִמֶּרְחָ֔ק בֹּעֵ֣ר אַפּ֔וֹ וְכֹ֖בֶד מַשָּׂאָ֑ה שְׂפָתָיו֙ מָ֣לְאוּ זַ֔עַם וּלְשׁוֹנ֖וֹ כְּאֵ֥שׁ אֹכָֽלֶת׃
28His breath is like a raging torrent that rises to the neck, sifting the nations in the sieve of destruction, setting in the jaws of the peoples a bridle that leads them astray.
וְרוּח֞וֹ כְּנַ֤חַל שׁוֹטֵף֙ עַד־צַוָּ֣אר יֶֽחֱצֶ֔ה לַהֲנָפָ֥ה גוֹיִ֖ם בְּנָ֣פַת שָׁ֑וְא וְרֶ֣סֶן מַתְעֶ֔ה עַ֖ל לְחָיֵ֥י עַמִּֽים׃
29But you will sing as on the night of a holy festival, and your hearts will be glad, like those who march to the music of the flute up to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel.
הַשִּׁיר֙ יִֽהְיֶ֣ה לָכֶ֔ם כְּלֵ֖יל הִתְקַדֶּשׁ־חָ֑ג וְשִׂמְחַ֣ת לֵבָ֗ב כַּֽהוֹלֵךְ֙ בֶּֽחָלִ֔יל לָב֥וֹא בְהַר־יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־צ֥וּר יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
30The LORD will make his majestic voice heard and show his arm coming down — with raging anger and devouring flame, with cloudburst and downpour and hailstones.
וְהִשְׁמִ֨יעַ יְהוָ֜ה אֶת־ה֣וֹד קוֹל֗וֹ וְנַ֤חַת זְרוֹעוֹ֙ יַרְאֶ֔ה בְּזַ֣עַף אַ֔ף וְלַ֖הַב אֵ֣שׁ אוֹכֵלָ֑ה נֶ֥פֶץ וָזֶ֖רֶם וְאֶ֥בֶן בָּרָֽד׃
31At the voice of the LORD, Assyria will be shattered; he will strike her down with his rod.
כִּֽי־מִקּ֥וֹל יְהוָ֖ה יֵחַ֣ת אַשּׁ֑וּר בַּשֵּׁ֖בֶט יַכֶּֽה׃
32Every stroke of the punishing staff that the LORD lays upon her will come to the beat of tambourines and lyres; with brandished arm he will fight against them.
וְהָיָ֗ה כֹּ֚ל מַֽעֲבַר֙ מַטֵּ֣ה מֽוּסָדָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָנִ֤יחַ יְהוָה֙ עָלָ֔יו בְּתֻפִּ֖ים וּבְכִנֹּר֑וֹת וּבְמִלְחֲמ֥וֹת תְּנוּפָ֖ה נִלְחַם־*בה **בָּֽם׃
33For Topheth has long been prepared, made ready for the king, deep and wide, its fire pit piled high with fire and wood. The breath of the LORD, like a stream of burning sulfur, will set it ablaze. [Footnote: Topheth was a burning place in the Valley of Hinnom outside Jerusalem; the Hebrew for "the king" also echoes the name Molech.]
כִּֽי־עָר֤וּךְ מֵֽאֶתְמוּל֙ תָּפְתֶּ֔ה גַּם־*הוא **הִ֛יא לַמֶּ֥לֶךְ הוּכָ֖ן הֶעְמִ֣יק הִרְחִ֑ב מְדֻרָתָ֗הּ אֵ֤שׁ וְעֵצִים֙ הַרְבֵּ֔ה נִשְׁמַ֤ת יְהוָה֙ כְּנַ֣חַל גָּפְרִ֔ית בֹּעֲרָ֖ה בָּֽהּ׃ ס