Egypt, Assyria, Israel Blessed

¹⁶ In that day the Egyptians will be ^(I)like women, and ^(J)tremble with fear before the hand that the Lord of hosts shakes over them. ¹⁷ And the land of Judah will become a terror to the Egyptians. Everyone to whom it is mentioned will fear because of the purpose that the Lord of hosts has purposed against them.

^18 (K)In that day there will be ^(L)five cities in the land of Egypt that ^(M)speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the Lord of hosts. One of these will be called the City of Destruction.^[a]

¹⁹ In that day there will be an ^(N)altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a ^(O)pillar to the Lord at its border. ^20 (P)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, ^(Q)he will send them a savior and defender, and deliver them. ^21 (R)And the Lord will make himself known to the Egyptians, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day ^(S)and worship with sacrifice and offering, and they will make vows to the Lord and perform them. ^22 (T)And the Lord will strike Egypt, striking and healing, and they will return to the Lord, and he will listen to their pleas for mercy and heal them.

^23 (U)In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and Assyria will come into Egypt, and Egypt into Assyria, ^(V)and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians.

²⁴ In that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria, ^(W)a blessing in the midst of the earth, ²⁵ whom the Lord of hosts has blessed, saying, “Blessed be Egypt ^(X)my people, and Assyria ^(Y)the work of my hands, and ^(Z)Israel my inheritance.”

A Sign Against Egypt and Cush

20 In the year that ^(AA)the commander in chief, who was sent by Sargon the king of Assyria, came to ^(AB)Ashdod and fought against it and captured it— ² at that time the Lord spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, “Go, and loose the sackcloth from your waist and take off your sandals from your feet,” and he did so, walking ^(AC)naked and barefoot.

³ Then the Lord said, “As my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot for three years ^(AD)as a sign and a portent against Egypt and Cush,^{[b] 4} so shall the ^(AE)king of Assyria lead away the Egyptian captives and the Cushite exiles, both the young and the old, naked and barefoot, with buttocks uncovered, the nakedness of Egypt. ^5 (AF)Then they shall be dismayed and ashamed because of Cush their hope and of Egypt their boast. ⁶ And the inhabitants of ^(AG)this coastland will say in that day, ‘Behold, this is what has happened to those in whom we hoped and ^(AH)to whom we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria! And we, how shall we escape?’”

Final Warning and Benediction

¹¹ See with what large letters I am writing to you ^(A)with my own hand. ^12 (B)It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh ^(C)who would force you to be circumcised, and only ^(D)in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. ¹³ For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. ¹⁴ But far be it from me to boast ^(E)except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which^[a] the world ^(F)has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ¹⁵ For ^(G)neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but ^(H)a new creation. ¹⁶ And as for all who walk by this rule, ^(I)peace and mercy be upon them, and upon ^(J)the Israel of God.

¹⁷ From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

^18 (K)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be ^(L)with your spirit, brothers. Amen.