Woe to Those Who Go Down to Egypt

31 Woe[a] to (A)those who go down to Egypt for help
    and rely on horses,
who (B)trust in chariots because they are many
    and in horsemen because they are very strong,
but (C)do not look to the Holy One of Israel
    or consult the Lord!
And (D)yet he is wise and brings disaster;
    (E)he does not call back his words,
but (F)will arise against the house of the evildoers
    and against the helpers of (G)those who work iniquity.
The Egyptians are man, and not God,
    and their horses (H)are flesh, and not spirit.
When the Lord stretches out his hand,
    the helper will stumble, and he who is helped will fall,
    and they will all perish together.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 31:1 Or Ah,

The Futility of Relying on Egypt

31 What sorrow awaits those who look to Egypt for help,
    trusting their horses, chariots, and charioteers
and depending on the strength of human armies
    instead of looking to the Lord,
    the Holy One of Israel.
In his wisdom, the Lord will send great disaster;
    he will not change his mind.
He will rise against the wicked
    and against their helpers.
For these Egyptians are mere humans, not God!
    Their horses are puny flesh, not mighty spirits!
When the Lord raises his fist against them,
    those who help will stumble,
and those being helped will fall.
    They will all fall down and die together.

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