The Lord, the Only Help

31 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help(A)
and who depend on horses!
They trust in the abundance of chariots
and in the large number of horsemen.(B)
They do not look(C) to the Holy One of Israel
and they do not seek the Lord’s help.
But He also is wise and brings disaster.(D)
He does not go back on what He says;(E)
He will rise up against the house of wicked men
and against the allies of evildoers.
Egyptians are men, not God;
their horses are flesh, not spirit.
When the Lord raises His hand to strike,
the helper will stumble
and the one who is helped will fall;
both will perish together.

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Only the Lord can Help

31 “How terrible it will be for those who go down to[a] Egypt for help,
    who rely on horses,
who trust in the chariot,
    because there are so many,
and in charioteers,[b]
    because they are so strong—
but do not look to[c] the Holy One of Israel
    or seek the Lord!
Yet he is also wise and can bring disaster;
    he does not take back his words,
but will rise up against the house of those who practice evil
    and against anyone who assists people who work iniquity.
The Egyptians are men, not God,
    and their horses are physical,[d] not spirit.
When the Lord stretches out his hand,
    anyone who assists will stumble,
and the one who is helped will fall;
    and they will all perish together.”

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 31:1 So 1QIsaa LXX; the Heb. lacks to
  2. Isaiah 31:1 Or horsemen
  3. Isaiah 31:1 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read upon
  4. Isaiah 31:3 Or flesh