Discovery BoxIsaiah 30:9-13 
Context30:9 For these are rebellious people –
they are lying children,
children unwilling to obey the Lord’s law. 1
30:10 They 2 say to the visionaries, “See no more visions!”
and to the seers, “Don’t relate messages to us about what is right! 3
Tell us nice things,
relate deceptive messages. 4
30:11 Turn aside from the way,
stray off the path. 5
Remove from our presence the Holy One of Israel.” 6
30:12 For this reason this is what the Holy One of Israel says:
“You have rejected this message; 7
you trust instead in your ability to oppress and trick, 8
and rely on that kind of behavior. 9
30:13 So this sin will become your downfall.
You will be like a high wall
that bulges and cracks and is ready to collapse;
it crumbles suddenly, in a flash. 10
1 tn Or perhaps, “instruction” (so NASB, NIV, NRSV); NCV, TEV “teachings.”
2 tn Heb “who” (so NASB, NRSV). A new sentence was started here in the translation for stylistic reasons.
3 tn Heb “Do not see for us right things.”
4 tn Heb “Tell us smooth things, see deceptive things.”
5 sn The imagery refers to the way or path of truth, as revealed by God to the prophet.
6 sn See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.
7 tn The sentence actually begins with the word “because.” In the Hebrew text vv. 12-13 are one long sentence.
8 tn Heb “and you trust in oppression and cunning.”
9 tn Heb “and you lean on it”; NAB “and depend on it.”
10 tn The verse reads literally, “So this sin will become for you like a breach ready to fall, bulging on a high wall, the breaking of which comes suddenly, in a flash.” Their sin produces guilt and will result in judgment. Like a wall that collapses their fall will be swift and sudden.
