What does Isaias Chapter 30 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

The chapter’s sequence retains its particular images and conditions. Edition interpretations remain separately attributed rather than certified claims. Promises and warnings retain their scope without invented scenes or universal practical guarantees.

Chapter breakdown

Isaias 30 condemns counsel and weaving without the Lord or his spirit, and Egyptian help sought without asking him. Princes at Tanis and messengers at Hanes encounter unprofitable help and shame. Southern beasts carry riches through a troubled land of lioness, lion, viper and flying basilisk. Egypt helps vainly. Writing upon box and in a book preserves testimony; no carved-tablet technique or purchased protection terms are specified.

Lying children reject law and ask seers for pleasant errors, removing the Holy One. Trust in oppression and tumult becomes a suddenly falling wall-breach and pottery broken beyond even a fire- or water-carrying sherd. Conditional return and quiet offer salvation, silence and hope strength, but swift horses are chosen and faster pursuers follow. A thousand flee one, and people flee five, leaving mast and ensign imagery.

The Lord waits for mercy; Sion's people receive answer to cries. Spare bread and short water accompany a teacher no longer fleeing and admonition behind them, without declaring an interior voice. Silver plates and gold garments of idols are discarded with the explicit menstruous-uncleanness comparison. Rain, plentiful corn, lamb pasture, winnowed animal provender and mountain streams accompany slaughter and falling tower. Moonlight like sun and sevenfold sunlight mark binding of wounds.

Fiery wrath, neck-high breath torrent, nations destroyed and bridle of error precede song and pipe at holy solemnity. Voice, arm, fire, whirlwind and hail trouble Assyria; rod, timbrels, harps and battles accompany overthrow. Topheth is prepared from yesterday, by the king, deep and wide with wood and fire and brimstone breath. The edition identifies Gehenna and hell; an actual monarch cast into it is not narrated.

The story inside

Opening: The chapter’s sequence retains its particular images and conditions. Development: Edition interpretations remain separately attributed rather than certified claims. Conclusion: Promises and warnings retain their scope without invented scenes or universal practical guarantees.

Lessons worth keeping

1
The chapter’s sequence retains its particular images and conditions.
2
Edition interpretations remain separately attributed rather than certified claims.
3
Promises and warnings retain their scope without invented scenes or universal practical guarantees.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 80977–80979
30:15. For thus saith the Lord God the Holy One of Israel: If you return and be quiet, you shall be saved: in silence and in hope shall your strength be. And you would not:
Lines 81001–81003
30:21. And thy ears shall hear the word of one admonishing thee behind thy back: This is the way, walk ye in it: and go not aside neither to the right hand, nor to the left.