1. The Lord declares,“How horrible it will be for those rebellious children.They carry out plans, but not mine.They make alliances against my will.They pile sin on top of sin.
2. They go to Egypt without asking me.They look for shelter under Pharaoh’s protectionand look for refuge in Egypt’s shadow.
3. But Pharaoh’s protection will be their shame,and the refuge in Egypt’s shadow will be their disgrace.
4. Although Pharaoh’s officials are in Zoanand his messengers have reached Hanes,
5. the people of Judah will be put to shamebecause that nation can’t help them.That nation can’t give aid or help to them.It can only offer shame and disgrace.”
6. This is the divine revelation about the animals in the Negev.“My people travel through landswhere they experience distress and hardship.Lions and lionesses live there.Vipers and poisonous snakes live there.They carry their riches on the backs of young donkeysand their treasures on the humps of camelsto a nation that can’t help them.
7. Egypt’s help is completely useless.That is why I call it, ‘Rahab who sits still.’
8. Now, write this on a tablet for them, and inscribe it in a bookso that it will be there in the future as a permanent witness.
9. These people are rebellious and deceitful children,children who refuse to listen to the Lord’s teachings.
10. They say to the seers, ‘Don’t see ⌊the future⌋.’They say to those who have visions,‘Don’t have visions that tell us what is right.Tell us what we want to hear. See illusions.
11. Get out of our way! Stop blocking our path!Get the Holy One of Israel out of our sight.’ ”
12. This is what the Holy One of Israel says:You have rejected this warning,trusted oppression and deceit,and leaned on them.
13. That is why your sin will belike a high wall with a bulging crack, ready to fall.All of a sudden it will fall.
14. It will break like pottery.It will be smashed, and nothing will be left of it.No piece will be big enough to carry live coals from a fireplaceor to dip water from a reservoir.