‏ Isaiah 30:1-2

Egypt Will Prove Unreliable

1 “The rebellious ▼
▼tn Or “stubborn” (NCV); cf. NIV “obstinate.”
children are as good as dead,” ▼
▼tn Heb “Woe [to] rebellious children.”
says the Lord,
“those who make plans without consulting me, ▼
▼tn Heb “making a plan, but not from me.”

who form alliances without consulting my Spirit, ▼
▼tn Heb “and pouring out a libation, but not [from] my spirit.” This translation assumes that the verb נָסַךְ (nasakh) means “pour out,” and that the cognate noun מַסֵּכָה (massekhah) means “libation.” In this case “pouring out a libation” alludes to a ceremony that formally ratifies an alliance. Another option is to understand the verb נָסַךְ as a homonym meaning “weave,” and the cognate noun מַסֵּכָה as a homonym meaning “covering.” In this case forming an alliance is likened to weaving a garment.

and thereby compound their sin. ▼
▼tn Heb “consequently adding sin to sin.”

2They travel down to Egypt
without seeking my will, ▼
▼tn Heb “those who go to descend to Egypt, but [of] my mouth they do not inquire.”

seeking Pharaoh’s protection,
and looking for safety in Egypt’s protective shade. ▼
▼tn Heb “to seek protection in the protection of Pharaoh, and to seek refuge in the shade of Egypt.”

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