Woe to the Obstinate Nation

30 “Woe(A) to the obstinate children,”(B)
    declares the Lord,
“to those who carry out plans that are not mine,
    forming an alliance,(C) but not by my Spirit,
    heaping sin upon sin;
who go down to Egypt(D)
    without consulting(E) me;
who look for help to Pharaoh’s protection,(F)
    to Egypt’s shade for refuge.(G)
But Pharaoh’s protection will be to your shame,
    Egypt’s shade(H) will bring you disgrace.(I)
Though they have officials in Zoan(J)
    and their envoys have arrived in Hanes,
everyone will be put to shame
    because of a people(K) useless(L) to them,
who bring neither help(M) nor advantage,
    but only shame and disgrace.(N)

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15 This is what the Sovereign(A) Lord, the Holy One(B) of Israel, says:

“In repentance and rest(C) is your salvation,
    in quietness and trust(D) is your strength,
    but you would have none of it.(E)
16 You said, ‘No, we will flee(F) on horses.’(G)
    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(H)
    you will all flee(I) away,
till you are left(J)
    like a flagstaff on a mountaintop,
    like a banner(K) on a hill.”

18 Yet the Lord longs(L) to be gracious to you;
    therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.(M)
For the Lord is a God of justice.(N)
    Blessed are all who wait for him!(O)

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