Study Desk

"Woe to the ^(a)rebellious children," declares the Lord , "Who ^(b)execute a plan, but not Mine, And ^[a](c)make an alliance, but not of My Spirit, In order to add sin to sin;

Who ^(d)proceed down to Egypt Without ^(e)consulting ^[b]Me, ^(f)To take refuge in the safety of Pharaoh And to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt!

"Therefore the safety of Pharaoh will be ^(g)your shame And the shelter in the shadow of Egypt, your humiliation.

"For ^(h)their princes are at Zoan And their ambassadors arrive at Hanes.

"Everyone will be ⁽ⁱ⁾ashamed because of a people who cannot profit them, Who are ^(j)not for help or profit, but for shame and also for reproach."

The ^[c]oracle concerning the ^(k)beasts of the ^(l)Negev. Through a land of ^(m)distress and anguish, From ^[d]where come lioness and lion, viper and ⁽ⁿ⁾flying serpent, They ^(o)carry their riches on the ^[e]backs of young donkeys And their treasures on ^(p)camels' humps, To a people who cannot profit them;

Even Egypt, whose ^(q)help is vain and empty. Therefore, I have called ^[f]her "^[g](r)Rahab who has been exterminated."

Now go, ^(s)write it on a tablet before them And inscribe it on a scroll, That it may ^[h]serve in the time to come ^[i]As a witness forever.

For this is a ^(t)rebellious people, ^(u)false sons, Sons who ^[j]refuse to ^(v)listen To the ^[k]instruction of the Lord ;

Who say to the ^(w)seers, "You must not see visions"; And to the prophets, "You must not ^(x)prophesy to us what is right, ^(y)Speak to us ^[l]pleasant words, Prophesy illusions.

"Get out of the way, ^(z)turn aside from the path, ^[m](aa)Let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel."

Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel, "^(ab)Since you have rejected this word And have put your trust in ^(ac)oppression and guile, and have relied on them,

Therefore this ^(ad)iniquity will be to you Like a ^(ae)breach about to fall, A bulge in a high wall, Whose collapse comes ^(af)suddenly in an instant,

Whose collapse is like the smashing of a ^(ag)potter's jar, ^[n]So ruthlessly shattered That a sherd will not be found among its pieces To ^[o]take fire from a hearth Or to scoop water from a cistern."

For thus the Lord ^[p] God , the Holy One of Israel, has said, "In ^[q]repentance and ^(ah)rest you will be saved, In ^(ai)quietness and trust is your strength." But you were not willing,

And you said, "No, for we will flee on ^(aj)horses," Therefore you shall flee! "And we will ride on swift horses," Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift.

^(ak)One thousand will flee at the threat of one man; You will flee at the threat of five, Until you are left as a ^[r]flag on a mountain top And as a signal on a hill.