Add parallel Print Page Options

All shall be ashamed
    of a people that gain them nothing,
Neither help nor benefit,
    but only shame and reproach.(A)
    Oracle on the Beasts of the Negeb.
Through the distressed and troubled land[a]
    of the lioness and roaring lion,
    of the viper and flying saraph,
They carry their riches on the backs of donkeys
    and their treasures on the humps of camels
To a people good for nothing,
    to Egypt whose help is futile and vain.
Therefore I call her
    “Rahab[b] Sit-still.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 30:6 Distressed…land: the wilderness between Judah and Egypt, through which Judahite messengers had to pass, carrying their tribute to Egypt to buy assistance in the struggle against Assyria. Flying saraph: see notes on 6:2; 14:29.
  2. 30:7 Here as elsewhere (cf. Ps 87:4) Egypt is compared to Rahab, the raging, destructive sea monster (cf. Is 51:9; Jb 26:12; Ps 89:11); yet Egypt, when asked for aid by Judah, becomes silent and “sits still.”

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.

Read full chapter

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.

Read full chapter