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There is only loathsome destruction[a]
    through a people that cannot benefit them,
who bring neither help nor profit,
    but only shame and disgrace.”

The Animals of the Negev

An oracle about the animals of the Negev:[b]

“Through a land of trouble, dryness,[c] and distress,
    of lionesses and roaring lions,
        where there is no water,[d]
a land of vipers and darting snakes,
    he carries[e] their riches on donkeys’ backs,
and their treasures on the humps of camels,
    to a nation that cannot benefit them,
to Egypt, which gives help that is worthless and useless.
    Therefore I call her,
        ‘Rahab,[f] who just sits still.’”

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 30:5 So 1QIsaa; MT reads Everyone comes to shame
  2. Isaiah 30:6 I.e. southern region of Israel; cf. Josh 10:40
  3. Isaiah 30:6 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX lack dryness; cf. Isa 41:18
  4. Isaiah 30:6 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read from whence come
  5. Isaiah 30:6 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read they carry
  6. Isaiah 30:7 The Heb. word Rahab means The One who Storms; i.e. Egypt; cf. Isa 51:9; Ps 87:4

everyone will be put to shame
    because of a people(A) useless(B) to them,
who bring neither help(C) nor advantage,
    but only shame and disgrace.(D)

A prophecy(E) concerning the animals of the Negev:(F)

Through a land of hardship and distress,(G)
    of lions(H) and lionesses,
    of adders and darting snakes,(I)
the envoys carry their riches on donkeys’(J) backs,
    their treasures(K) on the humps of camels,
to that unprofitable nation,
    to Egypt, whose help is utterly useless.(L)
Therefore I call her
    Rahab(M) the Do-Nothing.

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They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them, nor be an help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.

The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.

For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still.

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