Isaiah 19

1 The burden of Egypt. Behold, YHWH rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.

The burden of Egypt [Abode of slavery]: “Behold, Adonai rides on a swift cloud, and comes to Egypt [Abode of slavery]. The idols of Egypt [Abode of slavery] will tremble at his presence; and the heart of Egypt [Abode of slavery] will melt within it.

2 And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.

I will stir up the Egyptians [people from Abode of slavery] against the Egyptians [people from Abode of slavery], and they will fight everyone against his brother, and everyone against his neighbor; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.

3 And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards.

The spirit of Egypt [Abode of slavery] will fail within it. I will destroy its counsel. They will seek the idols, the charmers, those who have familiar spirits, and the wizards.

4 And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel master; and a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the Master, YHWH of hosts.

I will give over the Egyptians [people from Abode of slavery] into the hand of a cruel lord. A fierce king will rule over them,” says, Adon, Adonai Tzva'ot [Lord, Yahweh Commander of heaven’s armies].

5 And the waters shall fail from the sea, and the river shall be wasted and dried up.

The waters will fail from the sea, and the river will be wasted and become dry.

6 And they shall turn the rivers far away; and the brooks of defence shall be emptied and dried up: the reeds and flags shall wither.

The rivers will become foul. The streams of Egypt [Abode of slavery] will be diminished and dried up. The reeds and flags will wither away.

7 The paper reeds by the brooks, by the mouth of the brooks, and every thing sown by the brooks, shall wither, be driven away, and be no more.

The meadows by the Nile, by the brink of the Nile, and all the sown fields of the Nile, will become dry, be driven away, and be no more.

8 The fishers also shall mourn, and all they that cast angle into the brooks shall lament, and they that spread nets upon the waters shall languish.

The fishermen will lament, and all those who fish in the Nile will mourn, and those who spread nets on the waters will languish.

9 Moreover they that work in fine flax, and they that weave networks, shall be confounded.

Moreover those who work in combed flax, and those who weave white cloth, will be confounded.

10 And they shall be broken in the purposes thereof, all that make sluices and ponds for fish.

The pillars will be broken in pieces. All those who work for hire will be grieved in soul.

11 Surely the princes of Zoan are fools, the counsel of the wise counsellers of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?

The princes of Zoan are utterly foolish. The counsel of the wisest counselors of Pharaoh has become stupid. How do you say to Pharaoh, “I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?”

12 Where are they? where are thy wise men? and let them tell thee now, and let them know what YHWH of hosts hath purposed upon Egypt.

Where then are your wise men? Let them tell you now; and let them know what Adonai Tzva'ot [Yahweh Commander of heaven’s armies] has purposed concerning Egypt [Abode of slavery].

13 The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also seduced Egypt, even they that are the stay of the tribes thereof.

The princes of Zoan have become fools. The princes of Memphis are deceived. They have caused Egypt [Abode of slavery] to go astray, who are the corner-stone of her tribes.

14 YHWH hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit.

Adonai has mixed a spirit of perverseness in the middle of her; and they have caused Egypt [Abode of slavery] to go astray in all of its works, like a drunken man staggers in his vomit.

15 Neither shall there be any work for Egypt, which the head or tail, branch or rush, may do.

Neither shall there be any work for Egypt [Abode of slavery], which head or tail, palm branch or rush, may do.

16 In that day shall Egypt be like unto women: and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of YHWH of hosts, which he shaketh over it.

In that day the Egyptians [people from Abode of slavery] will be like women. They will tremble and fear because of the shaking of Adonai Tzva'ot [Yahweh Commander of heaven’s armies]’s hand, which he shakes over them.

17 And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt, every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of YHWH of hosts, which he hath determined against it.

The land of Judah [Praised] will become a terror to Egypt [Abode of slavery]. Everyone to whom mention is made of it will be afraid, because of the plans of Adonai Tzva'ot [Yahweh Commander of heaven’s armies], which he determines against it.

18 In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to YHWH of hosts; one shall be called, The city of destruction.

In that day, there will be five cities in the land of Egypt [Abode of slavery] that speak the language of Canaan [Humbled], and swear to Adonai Tzva'ot [Yahweh Commander of heaven’s armies]. One will be called “The city of destruction.”

19 In that day shall there be an altar to YHWH in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to YHWH.

In that day, there will be an altar to Adonai in the middle of the land of Egypt [Abode of slavery], and a pillar to Adonai at its border.

20 And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto YHWH of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto YHWH because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them.

It will be for a sign and for a witness to Adonai Tzva'ot [Yahweh Commander of heaven’s armies] in the land of Egypt [Abode of slavery]; for they will cry to Adonai because of oppressors, and he will send them one to save and a defend them, and he will deliver them.

21 And YHWH shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know YHWH in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto YHWH, and perform it.

Adonai will be known to Egypt [Abode of slavery], and the Egyptians [people from Abode of slavery] will know Adonai in that day. Yes, they will worship with sacrifice and offering, and will vow a vow to Adonai, and will perform it.

22 And YHWH shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to YHWH, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them.

Adonai will strike Egypt [Abode of slavery], striking and healing. They will make teshuvah ·complete return· to Adonai, and he will be entreated by them, and will heal them.

23 In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians.

In that day there will be a highway out of Egypt [Abode of slavery] to Assyria [Level plain], and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt [Abode of slavery], and the Egyptian [person from Abode of slavery] into Assyria [Level plain]; and the Egyptians [people from Abode of slavery] will worship with the Assyrians.

24 In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land:

In that day, Israel [God prevails] will be the third with Egypt [Abode of slavery] and with Assyria [Level plain], a blessing within the earth;

25 Whom YHWH of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.

because Adonai Tzva'ot [Yahweh Commander of heaven’s armies] has blessed them, saying, “Blessed be Egypt [Abode of slavery] my people, Assyria [Level plain] the work of my hands, and Israel [God prevails] my inheritance.”