Isaiah 30:6-17 - Oracle Regarding The Negev

⁶ The word about the Beasts of the South. Through the land of trouble and grief, the land of the she-lion and the voice of the lion, of the snake and the burning winged snake, they take their wealth on the backs of young asses, and their stores on camels, to a people in whom is no profit. ⁷ For there is no use or purpose in the help of Egypt: so I have said about her, She is Rahab, who has come to an end.

⁸ Now go, put it in writing before them on a board, and make a record of it in a book, so that it may be for the future, a witness for all time to come. ⁹ For they are an uncontrolled people, false-hearted, who will not give ear to the teaching of the Lord: ¹⁰ Who say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Do not give us word of what is true, but say false things to give us pleasure: ¹¹ Get out of the good way, turning from the right road; do not keep the Holy One of Israel before our minds. ¹² For this cause the Holy One of Israel says, Because you will not give ear to this word, and are looking for help in ways of deceit and evil, and are putting your hope in them: ¹³ This sin will be to you like a crack in a high wall, causing its fall suddenly and in a minute. ¹⁴ And he will let it be broken as a potter's vessel is broken: it will be smashed to bits without mercy; so that there will not be a bit in which one may take fire from the fireplace, or water from the spring. ¹⁵ For the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, said, In quiet and rest is your salvation: peace and hope are your strength: but you would not have it so. ¹⁶ Saying, No, for we will go in flight on horses; so you will certainly go in flight: and, We will go on the backs of quick-running beasts; so those who go after you will be quick-footed. ¹⁷ A thousand will go in fear before one; even before five you will go in flight: till you are like a pillar by itself on the top of a mountain, and like a flag on a hill.