³¹ David was told that Ahithophel was among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, “O Lord, I pray you, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”^(A)

²³ When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey and went off home to his own city. He set his house in order and hanged himself; he died and was buried in the tomb of his father.^(A)

¹⁴ Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” For the Lord had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the Lord might bring ruin on Absalom.^(A)

¹⁵ This is not wisdom that comes down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish.^(A)

¹⁶ On that day the Egyptians will be like women and tremble with fear before the hand that the Lord of hosts raises against them.^{(E) 17} And the land of Judah will become a terror^[b] to the Egyptians; everyone to whom it is mentioned will fear because of the plan that the Lord of hosts is planning against them.^(F)

Egypt, Assyria, and Israel Blessed

¹⁸ On that day there will be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the Lord of hosts. One of these will be called the City of the Sun.^[c](G)

¹⁹ On that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt and a pillar to the Lord at its border.^{(H) 20} It will be a sign and a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt; when they cry to the Lord because of oppressors, he will send them a savior and will defend and deliver them.^{(I) 21} The Lord will make himself known to the Egyptians, and the Egyptians will know the Lord on that day and will serve with sacrifice and offerings, and they will make vows to the Lord and perform them.^{(J) 22} The Lord will strike Egypt, striking but healing, so that they will return to the Lord, and he will listen to their supplications and heal them.^(K)

²³ On that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come into Egypt and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians will serve with the Assyrians.^(L)

²⁴ On that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, ²⁵ whom the Lord of hosts has blessed, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people and Assyria the work of my hands and Israel my heritage.”^(M)

²³ Now in those days the counsel that Ahithophel gave was as if one consulted the oracle^[a] of God, so all the counsel of Ahithophel was esteemed both by David and by Absalom.^(A)

¹⁸ Do not deceive yourselves. If you think that you are wise in this age, you should become fools so that you may become wise.^{(A) 19} For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written,

²⁰ and again,

²⁰ Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?^(A)