1 Ai dos filhos rebeldes, diz o Senhor, que executam planos que não procedem de mim e fazem aliança sem a minha aprovação, para acrescentarem pecado sobre pecado! 2 Que descem ao Egito sem me consultar, buscando refúgio em Faraó e abrigo, à sombra do Egito! 3 Mas o refúgio de Faraó se vos tornará em vergonha, e o abrigo na sombra do Egito, em confusão. 4 Porque os príncipes de Judá já estão em Zoã, e os seus embaixadores já chegaram a Hanes. 5 Todos se envergonharão de um povo que de nada lhes valerá, não servirá nem de ajuda nem de proveito, porém de vergonha e de opróbrio. 6 Sentença contra a Besta do Sul. Através da terra da aflição e angústia de onde vêm a leoa, o leão, a víbora e a serpente volante, levam a lombos de jumento as suas riquezas e sobre as corcovas de camelos, os seus tesouros, a um povo que de nada lhes aproveitará. 7 Pois, quanto ao Egito, vão e inútil é o seu auxílio; por isso, lhe chamei Gabarola que nada faz.

8 Vai, pois, escreve isso numa tabuinha perante eles, escreve-o num livro, para que fique registrado para os dias vindouros, para sempre, perpetuamente. 9 Porque povo rebelde é este, filhos mentirosos, filhos que não querem ouvir a lei do Senhor. 10 Eles dizem aos videntes: Não tenhais visões; e aos profetas: Não profetizeis para nós o que é reto; dizei-nos coisas aprazíveis, profetizai-nos ilusões; 11 desviai-vos do caminho, apartai-vos da vereda; não nos faleis mais do Santo de Israel. 12 Pelo que assim diz o Santo de Israel: Visto que rejeitais esta palavra, confiais na opressão e na perversidade e sobre isso vos estribais, 13 portanto, esta maldade vos será como a brecha de um muro alto, que, formando uma barriga, está prestes a cair, e cuja queda vem de repente, num momento. 14 O Senhor o quebrará como se quebra o vaso do oleiro, despedaçando-o sem nada lhe poupar; não se achará entre os seus cacos um que sirva para tomar fogo da lareira ou tirar água da poça. 15 Porque assim diz o Senhor Deus, o Santo de Israel: Em vos converterdes e em sossegardes, está a vossa salvação; na tranquilidade e na confiança, a vossa força, mas não o quisestes. 16 Antes, dizeis: Não, sobre cavalos fugiremos; portanto, fugireis; e: Sobre cavalos ligeiros cavalgaremos; sim, ligeiros serão os vossos perseguidores. 17 Mil homens fugirão pela ameaça de apenas um; pela ameaça de cinco, todos vós fugireis, até que sejais deixados como o mastro no cimo do monte e como o estandarte no outeiro.

18 Por isso, o Senhor espera, para ter misericórdia de vós, e se detém, para se compadecer de vós, porque o Senhor é Deus de justiça; bem-aventurados todos os que nele esperam. 19 Porque o povo habitará em Sião, em Jerusalém; tu não chorarás mais; certamente, se compadecerá de ti, à voz do teu clamor, e, ouvindo-a, te responderá. 20 Embora o Senhor vos dê pão de angústia e água de aflição, contudo, não se esconderão mais os teus mestres; os teus olhos verão os teus mestres. 21 Quando te desviares para a direita e quando te desviares para a esquerda, os teus ouvidos ouvirão atrás de ti uma palavra, dizendo: Este é o caminho, andai por ele. 22 E terás por contaminados a prata que recobre as imagens esculpidas e o ouro que reveste as tuas imagens de fundição; lançá-las-ás fora como coisa imunda e a cada uma dirás: Fora daqui!

23 Então, o Senhor te dará chuva sobre a tua semente, com que semeares a terra, como também pão como produto da terra, o qual será farto e nutritivo; naquele dia, o teu gado pastará em lugares espaçosos. 24 Os bois e os jumentos que lavram a terra comerão forragem com sal, alimpada com pá e forquilha. 25 Em todo monte alto e em todo outeiro elevado haverá ribeiros e correntes de águas, no dia da grande matança quando caírem as torres. 26 A luz da lua será como a do sol, e a do sol, sete vezes maior, como a luz de sete dias, no dia em que o Senhor atar a ferida do seu povo e curar a chaga do golpe que ele deu.

27 Eis o nome do Senhor vem de longe, ardendo na sua ira, no meio de espessas nuvens; os seus lábios estão cheios de indignação, e a sua língua é como fogo devorador. 28 A sua respiração é como a torrente que transborda e chega até ao pescoço, para peneirar as nações com peneira de destruição; um freio de fazer errar estará nos queixos dos povos. 29 Um cântico haverá entre vós, como na noite em que se celebra festa santa; e alegria de coração, como a daquele que sai ao som da flauta para ir ao monte do Senhor, à Rocha de Israel. 30 O Senhor fará ouvir a sua voz majestosa e fará ver o golpe do seu braço, que desce com indignação de ira, no meio de chamas devoradoras, de chuvas torrenciais, de tempestades e de pedra de saraiva. 31 Porque com a voz do Senhor será apavorada a Assíria, quando ele a fere com a vara. 32 Cada pancada castigadora, com a vara, que o Senhor lhe der, será ao som de tamboris e harpas; e combaterá vibrando golpes contra eles. 33 Porque há muito está preparada a fogueira, preparada para o rei; a pira é profunda e larga, com fogo e lenha em abundância; o assopro do Senhor, como torrente de enxofre, a acenderá.

1 Woe to the rebellious children, saith Jehovah, that take counsel, but not of me; and that make a league, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin, 2 that set out to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to take refuge in the shadow of Egypt! 3 Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the refuge in the shadow of Egypt your confusion. 4 For their princes are at Zoan, and their ambassadors are come to Hanes. 5 They shall all be ashamed because of a people that cannot profit them, that are not a help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.

6 The burden of the beasts of the South.

Through the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the lioness and the lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the humps of camels, to a people that shall not profit them. 7 For Egypt helpeth in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I called her Rahab that sitteth still.

8 Now go, write it before them on a tablet, and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever. 9 For it is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of Jehovah; 10 that say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits, 11 get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us. 12 Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and rely thereon; 13 therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly in an instant. 14 And he shall break it as a potter’s vessel is broken, breaking it in pieces without sparing; so that there shall not be found among the pieces thereof a sherd wherewith to take fire from the hearth, or to dip up water out of the cistern.

15 For thus said the Lord Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength. And ye would not: 16 but ye said, No, for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift. 17 One thousand shall flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on a hill.

18 And therefore will Jehovah wait, that he may be gracious unto you; and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for Jehovah is a God of justice; blessed are all they that wait for him. 19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem; thou shalt weep no more; he will surely be gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear, he will answer thee. 20 And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be hidden anymore, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers; 21 and thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it; when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. 22 And ye shall defile the overlaying of thy graven images of silver, and the plating of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as an unclean thing; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence.

23 And he will give the rain for thy seed, wherewith thou shalt sow the ground; and bread of the increase of the ground, and it shall be fat and plenteous. In that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures; 24 the oxen likewise and the young asses that till the ground shall eat savory provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fork. 25 And there shall be upon every lofty mountain, and upon every high hill, brooks and streams of waters, in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall. 26 Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that Jehovah bindeth up the hurt of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.

27 Behold, the name of Jehovah cometh from far, burning with his anger, and in thick rising smoke: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue is as a devouring fire; 28 and his breath is as an overflowing stream, that reacheth even unto the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of destruction: and a bridle that causeth to err shall be in the jaws of the peoples. 29 Ye shall have a song as in the night when a holy feast is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come unto the mountain of Jehovah, to the Rock of Israel. 30 And Jehovah will cause his glorious voice to be heard, and will show the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and the flame of a devouring fire, with a blast, and tempest, and hailstones. 31 For through the voice of Jehovah shall the Assyrian be dismayed; with his rod will he smite him. 32 And every stroke of the appointed staff, which Jehovah shall lay upon him, shall be with the sound of tabrets and harps; and in battles with the brandishing of his arm will he fight with them. 33 For a Topheth is prepared of old; yea, for the king it is made ready; he hath made it deep and large; the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of Jehovah, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.

1 "Woe to the obstinate children," declares the LORD, "to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin;

2 who go down to Egypt without consulting me; who look for help to Pharaoh's protection, to Egypt's shade for refuge.

3 But Pharaoh's protection will be to your shame, Egypt's shade will bring you disgrace.

4 Though they have officials in Zoan and their envoys have arrived in Hanes,

5 everyone will be put to shame because of a people useless to them, who bring neither help nor advantage, but only shame and disgrace."

6 A prophecy concerning the animals of the Negev: Through a land of hardship and distress, of lions and lionesses, of adders and darting snakes, the envoys carry their riches on donkeys' backs, their treasures on the humps of camels, to that unprofitable nation,

7 to Egypt, whose help is utterly useless. Therefore I call her Rahab the Do-Nothing.

8 Go now, write it on a tablet for them, inscribe it on a scroll, that for the days to come it may be an everlasting witness.

9 For these are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the LORD's instruction.

10 They say to the seers, "See no more visions!" and to the prophets, "Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions.

11 Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!"

12 Therefore this is what the Holy One of Israel says: "Because you have rejected this message, relied on oppression and depended on deceit,

13 this sin will become for you like a high wall, cracked and bulging, that collapses suddenly, in an instant.

14 It will break in pieces like pottery, shattered so mercilessly that among its pieces not a fragment will be found for taking coals from a hearth or scooping water out of a cistern."

15 This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.

16 You said, 'No, we will flee on horses.' Therefore you will flee! You said, 'We will ride off on swift horses.' Therefore your pursuers will be swift!

17 A thousand will flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you will all flee away, till you are left like a flagstaff on a mountaintop, like a banner on a hill."

18 Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!

19 People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you.

20 Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them.

21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

22 Then you will desecrate your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, "Away with you!"

23 He will also send you rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentiful. In that day your cattle will graze in broad meadows.

24 The oxen and donkeys that work the soil will eat fodder and mash, spread out with fork and shovel.

25 In the day of great slaughter, when the towers fall, streams of water will flow on every high mountain and every lofty hill.

26 The moon will shine like the sun, and the sunlight will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days, when the LORD binds up the bruises of his people and heals the wounds he inflicted.

27 See, the Name of the LORD comes from afar, with burning anger and dense clouds of smoke; his lips are full of wrath, and his tongue is a consuming fire.

28 His breath is like a rushing torrent, rising up to the neck. He shakes the nations in the sieve of destruction; he places in the jaws of the peoples a bit that leads them astray.

29 And you will sing as on the night you celebrate a holy festival; your hearts will rejoice as when people playing pipes go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel.

30 The LORD will cause people to hear his majestic voice and will make them see his arm coming down with raging anger and consuming fire, with cloudburst, thunderstorm and hail.

31 The voice of the LORD will shatter Assyria; with his rod he will strike them down.

32 Every stroke the LORD lays on them with his punishing club will be to the music of timbrels and harps, as he fights them in battle with the blows of his arm.

33 Topheth has long been prepared; it has been made ready for the king. Its fire pit has been made deep and wide, with an abundance of fire and wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of burning sulfur, sets it ablaze.