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 YHWH.

Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help, who trust in horses and chariots, for they are many; and in horses, [which are] a great multitude; and have not trusted in the Holy One of Israel, and have not sought 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.

Therefore he has wisely brought evils upon them, and his word shall not be frustrated; and he shall rise up against the houses of wicked men, and against their vain hope,

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

[even] an Egyptian, a man, and not God; the flesh of horses, and there is no help [in them]: but the Lord shall bring his hand upon them, and the helpers shall fail, and all shall perish together.

4 For thus says YHWH 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 YHWH of hosts will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its heights.

For thus said the Lord to me, As a lion would roar, or a lion's whelp over prey which he has taken, and cry over it, until the mountains are filled with his voice, and [the animals] are awe-struck and tremble at the fierceness of his wrath: so the Lord of hosts shall descend to fight upon the mount Sion, [even] upon her mountains.

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

As birds flying, so shall the Lord of hosts defend; he shall defend Jerusalem, and he shall rescue, and save and deliver.

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

Turn, you children of Israel, who devise a deep and sinful counsel.

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 in that day men shall renounce their silver idols and [their] golden idols, which their hands made.

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.

And the Assyrian shall fall: not the sword of a great man, nor the sword of a mean man shall devour him; neither shall he flee from the face of the sword: but the young men shall be overthrown:

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

for they shall be compassed with rocks as with a trench, and shall be worsted; and he that flees shall be taken. Thus says the Lord, Blesses is he that has a seed in Sion, and household friends in Jerusalem.