Isaiah 31
1 Tragedy is coming to those who appeal to Egypt for help, depending on their horses and trusting in all their chariots and charioteers! They don't look to the Holy One of Israel for help; they don't ask the Lord for advice.
Alas! for them who are going down to Egypt for help, On horses, would rely, —And have trusted—In chariots—because they are many, and In horsemen, because they are very bold, But have not looked unto the Holy One of Israel, And onto Yahweh, have not sought.
2 Yet he's also wise! He will bring disaster and won't withdraw his orders. He will take action against this wicked nation and the evil people who help them.
But, he also, is wise, and hath brought in calamity, And his own words, hath he not set aside, —Therefore will he rise up, Against the house of evil-doers, and Against the help of the workers of iniquity.
3 The Egyptians are only human beings—they're not God! Their horses are only physical, not spiritual. When the Lord lifts up his hand to attack, those who came to help will stumble, and those who are helped will fall. They will all die together.
Now, the Egyptians, are, men, and not, GOD, And, their horses, flesh, and not, spirit; When, Yahweh, shall stretch out his hand, Then, he that is giving help, shall stumble And, he that is receiving help, shall fall, And, together, shall, all of them, vanish!
4 This is what the Lord told me: It's like a young lion growling as it stands over its prey. Even though a lot of shepherds come to protest, it's not frightened off by their shouting or intimidated by all their noise. In the same way the Lord Almighty will come down to fight on Mount Zion.
For Thus, hath Yahweh said unto me—Like as a lion or a young lion growleth over his prey. Who—though there be called out against him a multitude of shepherds—Will not at their voice, be dismayed, Nor, at their noise, be daunted, So, will Yahweh of hosts come down, to make war over Mount Zion, and over the hill thereof.
5 Like birds that hover above, so the Lord Almighty will take care of Jerusalem. He will protect it and save it; he will pass over it and rescue it.
As little mother-birds hovering, so, will Yahweh of hosts throw a covering over Jerusalem, —Covering, so will he rescue, Passing over, so will he deliver!
6 Come back, Israelites, to the one you so blatantly rebelled against.
Return ye unto him against whom the sons of Israel have deeply revolted,
7 For at that time every one of you will throw away all the idols of silver and gold made by your own sinful hands.
For in that day, will every man reject his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, —Which your hands had made for you as a sin!
8 The Assyrians will be killed by the sword of one who is not a man. They will destroyed by the sword of one who is not mortal. They will run away at the sight of the sword, and the young Assyrian men will be taken away as slave laborers.
Then shall the Assyrian fall, by the sword, not of a great man, And the sword, not of a mean man, shall devour him, —Howbeit he shall take his flight from the face of a sword, And his young men, shall come under tribute;
9 Their “rock” will be scared to death, and their officers will be terrified and in panic at the sight of the battle flag, declares the Lord, who has his fire in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.
And his own Cliff, through terror, shall he pass by, And his princes shall be dismayed at an ensign, —Declareth Yahweh. Who hath a flame in Zion, And hath a furnace in Jerusalem.
