TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 30

Translation and Transliteration of 

1Oh, disloyal sons! —declares Hashem— Making plans Against My wishes, Weaving schemes Against My will, Thereby piling Guilt on guilt—

אהוֹי בָּנִים סוֹרְרִים נְאֻם־יְהֹוָה לַעֲשׂוֹת עֵצָה וְלֹא מִנִּי וְלִנְסֹךְ מַסֵּכָה וְלֹא רוּחִי לְמַעַן סְפוֹת חַטָּאת עַל־חַטָּאת׃

2Who set out to go down to Egypt Without asking Me, To seek refuge with Pharaoh, To seek shelter under the protection of Egypt.

בהַהֹלְכִים לָרֶדֶת מִצְרַיִם וּפִי לֹא שָׁאָלוּ לָעוֹז בְּמָעוֹז פַּרְעֹה וְלַחְסוֹת בְּצֵל מִצְרָיִם׃

3The refuge with Pharaoh shall result in your shame; The shelter under Egypt's protection, in your chagrin.

גוְהָיָה לָכֶם מָעוֹז פַּרְעֹה לְבֹשֶׁת וְהֶחָסוּת בְּצֵל־מִצְרַיִם לִכְלִמָּה׃

4Though his officers are present in Zoan, And his messengers reach as far as Hanes,

דכִּי־הָיוּ בְצֹעַן שָׂרָיו וּמַלְאָכָיו חָנֵס יַגִּיעוּ׃

5They all shall come to shame Because of a people that does not avail them, That is of no help or avail, But [brings] only chagrin and disgrace.

הכֹּל הבאיש [הֹבִישׁ] עַל־עַם לֹא־יוֹעִילוּ לָמוֹ לֹא לְעֵזֶר וְלֹא לְהוֹעִיל כִּי לְבֹשֶׁת וְגַם־לְחֶרְפָּה׃

6The “Beasts of the Negev” Pronouncement. Through a land of distress and hardship, Of lion and roaring king-beast, Of viper and flying seraph, They convey their wealth on the backs of asses, Their treasures on camels' humps, To a people of no avail.

ומַשָּׂא בַּהֲמוֹת נֶגֶב בְּאֶרֶץ צָרָה וְצוּקָה לָבִיא וָלַיִשׁ מֵהֶם אֶפְעֶה וְשָׂרָף מְעוֹפֵף יִשְׂאוּ עַל־כֶּתֶף עֲיָרִים חֵילֵהֶם וְעַל־דַּבֶּשֶׁת גְּמַלִּים אוֹצְרֹתָם עַל־עַם לֹא יוֹעִילוּ׃

7For the help of Egypt Shall be vain and empty. Truly, I call this, “They are a threat that has ceased.”

זוּמִצְרַיִם הֶבֶל וָרִיק יַעְזֹרוּ לָכֵן קָרָאתִי לָזֹאת רַהַב הֵם שָׁבֶת׃

8Now, Go, write it down on a tablet And inscribe it in a record, That it may be with them for future days, A witness forever.

חעַתָּה בּוֹא כָתְבָהּ עַל־לוּחַ אִתָּם וְעַל־סֵפֶר חֻקָּהּ וּתְהִי לְיוֹם אַחֲרוֹן לָעַד עַד־עוֹלָם׃

9For it is a rebellious people, Faithless children, Children who refused to heed The instruction of Hashem;

טכִּי עַם מְרִי הוּא בָּנִים כֶּחָשִׁים בָּנִים לֹא־אָבוּ שְׁמוֹעַ תּוֹרַת יְהֹוָה׃

10Who said to the seers, “Do not see,” To the Neviim, “Do not prophesy truth to us; Speak to us falsehoods, Prophesy delusions.

יאֲשֶׁר אָמְרוּ לָרֹאִים לֹא תִרְאוּ וְלַחֹזִים לֹא תֶחֱזוּ־לָנוּ נְכֹחוֹת דַּבְּרוּ־לָנוּ חֲלָקוֹת חֲזוּ מַהֲתַלּוֹת׃

11Leave the way! Get off the path! Let us hear no more About the Holy One of Yisrael!”

יאסוּרוּ מִנֵּי־דֶרֶךְ הַטּוּ מִנֵּי־אֹרַח הַשְׁבִּיתוּ מִפָּנֵינוּ אֶת־קְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל׃

12Assuredly, Thus said the Holy One of Yisrael: Because you have rejected this word, And have put your trust and reliance In that which is fraudulent and tortuous—

יבלָכֵן כֹּה אָמַר קְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל יַעַן מָאָסְכֶם בַּדָּבָר הַזֶּה וַתִּבְטְחוּ בְּעֹשֶׁק וְנָלוֹז וַתִּשָּׁעֲנוּ עָלָיו׃

13Of a surety, This iniquity shall work on you Like a spreading breach that occurs in a lofty wall, Whose crash comes sudden and swift.

יגלָכֵן יִהְיֶה לָכֶם הֶעָוׂן הַזֶּה כְּפֶרֶץ נֹפֵל נִבְעֶה בְּחוֹמָה נִשְׂגָּבָה אֲשֶׁר־פִּתְאֹם לְפֶתַע יָבוֹא שִׁבְרָהּ׃

14It is smashed as one smashes an earthen jug, Ruthlessly shattered So that no shard is left in its breakage To scoop coals from a brazier, Or ladle water from a puddle.

ידוּשְׁבָרָהּ כְּשֵׁבֶר נֵבֶל יוֹצְרִים כָּתוּת לֹא יַחְמֹל וְלֹא־יִמָּצֵא בִמְכִתָּתוֹ חֶרֶשׂ לַחְתּוֹת אֵשׁ מִיָּקוּד וְלַחְשֹׂף מַיִם מִגֶּבֶא׃

15For thus said my God, The Holy One of Yisrael, “You shall triumph by stillness and quiet; Your victory shall come about Through calm and confidence.” But you refused.

טוכִּי כֹה־אָמַר אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה קְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּשׁוּבָה וָנַחַת תִּוָּשֵׁעוּן בְּהַשְׁקֵט וּבְבִטְחָה תִּהְיֶה גְּבוּרַתְכֶם וְלֹא אֲבִיתֶם׃

16“No,” you declared. “We shall flee on steeds”— Therefore you shall flee! “We shall ride on swift mounts”— Therefore your pursuers shall prove swift!

טזוַתֹּאמְרוּ לֹא־כִי עַל־סוּס נָנוּס עַל־כֵּן תְּנוּסוּן וְעַל־קַל נִרְכָּב עַל־כֵּן יִקַּלּוּ רֹדְפֵיכֶם׃

17One thousand before the shout of one— You shall flee at the shout of five; Till what is left of you Is like a mast on a hilltop, Like a pole upon a mountain.

יזאֶלֶף אֶחָד מִפְּנֵי גַּעֲרַת אֶחָד מִפְּנֵי גַּעֲרַת חֲמִשָּׁה תָּנֻסוּ עַד אִם־נוֹתַרְתֶּם כַּתֹּרֶן עַל־רֹאשׁ הָהָר וְכַנֵּס עַל־הַגִּבְעָה׃

18Truly, Hashem is waiting to show you grace, Truly, He will arise to pardon you. For Hashem is a God of justice; Happy are all who wait for Him.

v'-la-KHAYN y'-kha-KEH a-do-NAI la-kha-nan-KHEM v'-la-KHAYN ya-RUM l'-ra-khem-KHEM kee e-lo-HAY mish-PAT a-do-NAI ash-RAY kol kho-KHAY LO

יחוְלָכֵן יְחַכֶּה יְהֹוָה לַחֲנַנְכֶם וְלָכֵן יָרוּם לְרַחֶמְכֶם כִּי־אֱלֹהֵי מִשְׁפָּט יְהֹוָה אַשְׁרֵי כָּל־חוֹכֵי לוֹ׃

30:18   Truly, Hashem is waiting

Despite the fate of Ashdod ten years earlier, abandoned by Egypt to destruction by Assyria, there were still those in Yehuda who felt that an alliance with Pharaoh would be the best defense against the Assyrians. Yeshayahu describes a delegation that traveled southwards through the Negev desert with donkeys bearing treasures, in hopes of buying Egyptian loyalty. Hashem expresses His frustration with Israel for continuing their rebellious practices, placing their trust in others and not in Him. However, Yeshayahu states, divine patience was not yet exhausted. If they would cry out to Hashem (verse 19) and abolish idolatry entirely (verse 22), He would be gracious to his people. This is an important message for mankind. Hashem is a God of patience and forgiveness. Though people sin and turn their backs on Him, He is always waiting for them to correct their ways, so that He can be gracious to them and have compassion on them.

19Indeed, O people in Tzion, dwellers of Yerushalayim, you shall not have cause to weep. He will grant you His favor at the sound of your cry; He will respond as soon as He hears it.

יטכִּי־עַם בְּצִיּוֹן יֵשֵׁב בִּירוּשָׁלָ ִם בָּכוֹ לֹא־תִבְכֶּה חָנוֹן יָחְנְךָ לְקוֹל זַעֲקֶךָ כְּשָׁמְעָתוֹ עָנָךְ׃

20My Lord will provide for you meager bread and scant water. Then your Guide will no more be ignored, but your eyes will watch your Guide;

כוְנָתַן לָכֶם אֲדֹנָי לֶחֶם צָר וּמַיִם לָחַץ וְלֹא־יִכָּנֵף עוֹד מוֹרֶיךָ וְהָיוּ עֵינֶיךָ רֹאוֹת אֶת־מוֹרֶיךָ׃

21and, whenever you deviate to the right or to the left, your ears will heed the command from behind you: “This is the road; follow it!”

כאוְאָזְנֶיךָ תִּשְׁמַעְנָה דָבָר מֵאַחֲרֶיךָ לֵאמֹר זֶה הַדֶּרֶךְ לְכוּ בוֹ כִּי תַאֲמִינוּ וְכִי תַשְׂמְאִילוּ׃

22And you will treat as unclean the silver overlay of your images and the golden plating of your idols. You will cast them away like a menstruous woman. “Out!” you will call to them.

כבוְטִמֵּאתֶם אֶת־צִפּוּי פְּסִילֵי כַסְפֶּךָ וְאֶת־אֲפֻדַּת מַסֵּכַת זְהָבֶךָ תִּזְרֵם כְּמוֹ דָוָה צֵא תֹּאמַר לוֹ׃

23So rain shall be provided for the seed with which you sow the ground, and the bread that the ground brings forth shall be rich and fat. Your livestock, in that day, shall graze in broad pastures;

כגוְנָתַן מְטַר זַרְעֲךָ אֲשֶׁר־תִּזְרַע אֶת־הָאֲדָמָה וְלֶחֶם תְּבוּאַת הָאֲדָמָה וְהָיָה דָשֵׁן וְשָׁמֵן יִרְעֶה מִקְנֶיךָ בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא כַּר נִרְחָב׃

24as for the cattle and the asses that till the soil, they shall partake of salted fodder that has been winnowed with shovel and fan.

כדוְהָאֲלָפִים וְהָעֲיָרִים עֹבְדֵי הָאֲדָמָה בְּלִיל חָמִיץ יֹאכֵלוּ אֲשֶׁר־זֹרֶה בָרַחַת וּבַמִּזְרֶה׃

25And on every high mountain and on every lofty hill, there shall appear brooks and watercourses—on a day of heavy slaughter, when towers topple.

כהוְהָיָה עַל־כָּל־הַר גָּבֹהַ וְעַל כָּל־גִּבְעָה נִשָּׂאָה פְּלָגִים יִבְלֵי־מָיִם בְּיוֹם הֶרֶג רָב בִּנְפֹל מִגְדָּלִים׃

26And the light of the moon shall become like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall become sevenfold, like the light of the seven days, when Hashem binds up His people's wounds and heals the injuries it has suffered.

כווְהָיָה אוֹר־הַלְּבָנָה כְּאוֹר הַחַמָּה וְאוֹר הַחַמָּה יִהְיֶה שִׁבְעָתַיִם כְּאוֹר שִׁבְעַת הַיָּמִים בְּיוֹם חֲבֹשׁ יְהֹוָה אֶת־שֶׁבֶר עַמּוֹ וּמַחַץ מַכָּתוֹ יִרְפָּא׃

27Behold Hashem Himself Comes from afar In blazing wrath, With a heavy burden— His lips full of fury, His tongue like devouring fire,

כזהִנֵּה שֵׁם־יְהֹוָה בָּא מִמֶּרְחָק בֹּעֵר אַפּוֹ וְכֹבֶד מַשָּׂאָה שְׂפָתָיו מָלְאוּ זַעַם וּלְשׁוֹנוֹ כְּאֵשׁ אֹכָלֶת׃

28And his breath like a raging torrent Reaching halfway up the neck— To set a misguiding yoke upon nations And a misleading bridle upon the jaws of peoples,

כחוְרוּחוֹ כְּנַחַל שׁוֹטֵף עַד־צַוָּאר יֶחֱצֶה לַהֲנָפָה גוֹיִם בְּנָפַת שָׁוְא וְרֶסֶן מַתְעֶה עַל לְחָיֵי עַמִּים׃

29For you, there shall be singing As on a night when a festival is hallowed; There shall be rejoicing as when they march With flute, with timbrels, and with lyres* To the Rock o Yisrael on the Mount of Hashem.

כטהַשִּׁיר יִהְיֶה לָכֶם כְּלֵיל הִתְקַדֶּשׁ־חָג וְשִׂמְחַת לֵבָב כַּהוֹלֵךְ בֶּחָלִיל לָבוֹא בְהַר־יְהֹוָה אֶל־צוּר יִשְׂרָאֵל׃

30For Hashem will make His majestic voice heard And display the sweep of His arm In raging wrath, In a devouring blaze of fire, In tempest, and rainstorm, and hailstones.

לוְהִשְׁמִיעַ יְהֹוָה אֶת־הוֹד קוֹלוֹ וְנַחַת זְרוֹעוֹ יַרְאֶה בְּזַעַף אַף וְלַהַב אֵשׁ אוֹכֵלָה נֶפֶץ וָזֶרֶם וְאֶבֶן בָּרָד׃

31Truly, Assyria, who beats with the rod, Shall be cowed by the voice of Hashem;

לאכִּי־מִקּוֹל יְהֹוָה יֵחַת אַשּׁוּר בַּשֵּׁבֶט יַכֶּה׃

32And each time the appointed staff passes by, Hashem will bring down [His arm] upon him And will do battle with him as he waves it.

לבוְהָיָה כֹּל מַעֲבַר מַטֵּה מוּסָדָה אֲשֶׁר יָנִיחַ יְהֹוָה עָלָיו בְּתֻפִּים וּבְכִנֹּרוֹת וּבְמִלְחֲמוֹת תְּנוּפָה נִלְחַם־בה [בָּם׃]

33The Topheth has long been ready for him; He too is destined for Melech— His firepit has been made both wide and deep, With plenty of fire and firewood, And with the breath of Hashem Burning in it like a stream of sulfur.

לגכִּי־עָרוּךְ מֵאֶתְמוּל תָּפְתֶּה גַּם־הוא [הִיא] לַמֶּלֶךְ הוּכָן הֶעְמִיק הִרְחִב מְדֻרָתָהּ אֵשׁ וְעֵצִים הַרְבֵּה נִשְׁמַת יְהֹוָה כְּנַחַל גָּפְרִית בֹּעֲרָה בָּהּ׃