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31 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help,
    and rely on horses,
    and trust in chariots because they are many,
    and in horsemen because they are very strong,
    but they don’t look to the Holy One of Israel,
    and they don’t seek Yahweh!
Yet he also is wise, and will bring disaster,
    and will not call back his words, but will arise against the house of the evildoers,
    and against the help of those who work iniquity.
Now the Egyptians are men, and not God;
    and their horses flesh, and not spirit.
When Yahweh stretches out his hand, both he who helps shall stumble,
    and he who is helped shall fall,
    and they all shall be consumed together.

For Yahweh says to me,
“As the lion and the young lion growling over his prey,
    if a multitude of shepherds is called together against him,
    will not be dismayed at their voice,
    nor abase himself for their noise,
    so Yahweh of Armies will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its heights.
As birds hovering, so Yahweh of Armies will protect Jerusalem.
    He will protect and deliver it.
    He will pass over and preserve it.”
Return to him from whom you have deeply revolted, children of Israel. For in that day everyone shall cast away his idols of silver and his idols of gold—sin which your own hands have made for you.

“The Assyrian will fall by the sword, not of man;

    and the sword, not of mankind, shall devour him.
He will flee from the sword,
    and his young men will become subject to forced labor.
His rock will pass away by reason of terror,
    and his princes will be afraid of the banner,”
says Yahweh, whose fire is in Zion,
    and his furnace in Jerusalem.

The Folly of Not Trusting God

31 Woe to those (A)who go down to Egypt for help,
And (B)rely on horses,
Who trust in chariots because they are many,
And in horsemen because they are very strong,
But who do not look to the Holy One of Israel,
(C)Nor seek the Lord!
Yet He also is wise and will bring disaster,
And (D)will not [a]call back His words,
But will arise against the house of evildoers,
And against the help of those who work iniquity.
Now the Egyptians are men, and not God;
And their horses are flesh, and not spirit.
When the Lord stretches out His hand,
Both he who helps will fall,
And he who is helped will fall down;
They all will perish (E)together.

God Will Deliver Jerusalem

For thus the Lord has spoken to me:

(F)“As a lion roars,
And a young lion over his prey
(When a multitude of shepherds is summoned against him,
He will not be afraid of their voice
Nor be disturbed by their noise),
So the Lord of hosts will come down
To fight for Mount Zion and for its hill.
(G)Like birds flying about,
So will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem.
Defending, He will also deliver it;
Passing over, He will preserve it.

Return to Him against whom the children of Israel have (H)deeply revolted. For in that day every man shall (I)throw away his idols of silver and his idols of gold—(J)sin, which your own hands have made for yourselves.

“Then Assyria shall (K)fall by a sword not of man,
And a sword not of mankind shall (L)devour him.
But he shall flee from the sword,
And his young men shall become forced labor.
(M)He shall cross over to his stronghold for fear,
And his princes shall be afraid of the banner,”
Says the Lord,
Whose fire is in Zion
And whose furnace is in Jerusalem.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 31:2 retract