Isaiah 31

1 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, and trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, and they do not seek the LORD.

Woe to those that go down to Egypt for help; and depend for support on horses, and trust on chariots, because they are many; and on horsemen, because they are very strong; but who turn not unto the Holy One of Israel, and seek not the Lord!

2 Yet he also is wise, and will bring disaster, and will not call back his words, but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against those who help evildoers.

Yet he also is wise, and bringeth evil, and taketh not back his words; and riseth up against the house of evil-doers, and against the help of those that work injustice.

3 Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD stretches out his hand, both he who helps shall stumble, and he who is helped shall fall, and they all shall be consumed together.

But the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses are flesh, and not spirit; and the Lord will stretch out his hand, and there shall stumble the helper, and he that is helped shall fall down, and they all shall perish together.

4 For thus says the LORD to me, "As the lion and the young lion growling over his prey, if a multitude of shepherds is called together against him, will not be dismayed at their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them, so the LORD of hosts will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its heights.

For thus hath said the Lord unto me, Just as the lion or the young lion growleth over his prey, against whom is called forth the company of shepherds, of whose voice he is not afraid, and is not depressed because of their multitude: thus will the Lord come down, to fight on mount Zion and on its hill.

5 As birds hovering, so the LORD of hosts will protect Jerusalem. He will protect and deliver it. He will pass over and preserve it."

As fluttering birds, so will the Lord of hosts shield Jerusalem; shielding and delivering; sparing and preserving.

6 Return to him from whom you have deeply revolted, children of Israel.

Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted.

7 For in that day everyone shall cast away his idols of silver and his idols of gold—sin which your own hands have made for you.

For on that day shall every man despise his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you for a sin.

8 "The Assyrian will fall by the sword, not of man; and the sword, not of mankind, shall devour him. He will flee from the sword, and his young men will become subject to forced labor.

Then shall Asshur fall by the sword of one who is not a man; and the sword of one who is not a son of earth shall devour him; and he shall flee him from the sword, and his young men shall become tributary.

9 His rock will pass away by reason of terror, and his officers will be afraid of the banner," says the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.

And his stronghold shall pass away for fear, and his princes shall be terrified because of the ensign, saith the Lord, who hath a fire in Zion, and a furnace in Jerusalem.