Add parallel Print Page Options

The Egyptians are No Help

31 Ah! Those who go down to Egypt for help!

They rely on horses

and trust in chariots because they are many,
    and in horsemen because they are very numerous,
and they do not look to the holy one of Israel,
    and they do not consult Yahweh.
And indeed, he is wise, and he brings disaster,
    and he does not remove his words,
and he will rise against the house of evildoers
    and against the help of workers of iniquity.
And the Egyptians are human and not God,
    and their horses are flesh and not spirit.
And Yahweh stretches out his hand,
    and the helper will stumble,
and the one being helped will fall,
    and together all of them will come to an end.[a]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 31:3 Or “perish”

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.”

Read full chapter

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