Isaiah 31:1-5

New International Reader's Version

The Lord Will Judge Those Who Depend on Egypt

31 How terrible it will be for those who go down to Egypt for help!
    How terrible for those who depend on horses!
They trust in how many chariots they have.
    They trust in how strong their horsemen are.
But they don’t look to the Holy One of Israel.
    They don’t ask the Lord for his help.
²He too is wise. He can bring horrible trouble.
    He does what he says he’ll do.
He’ll rise up against that evil nation.
    He’ll fight against those who help them.
³The men of Egypt are only human beings.
    They aren’t God.
Their horses are only flesh and blood.
    They aren’t spirits.
The Lord will reach out his powerful hand
    to punish everyone.
The Egyptians provide help.
    But they will be tripped up.
The people of Judah receive the help.
    But they will fall down.
    All of them will be destroyed.

⁴The Lord says to me,

“A powerful lion stands over its food and growls.
    A lot of shepherds can be brought together to drive it away.
But the lion is not frightened by their shouts.
    It is not upset by the noise they make.
In the same way, I will come down from heaven.
    I will fight on Mount Zion and on its hills.
Nothing will drive me away.
    I am the Lord who rules over all.
⁵Like a bird hovering over its nest, I will guard Jerusalem.
    I will keep it safe.
I will ‘pass over’ it and save it.
    I am the Lord who rules over all.”