Isaiah 31

1 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.

Cursed are those who go down to Egypt for help, and who put their faith in horses; looking to war-carriages for salvation, because of their numbers; and to horsemen, because they are very strong; but they are not looking to the Holy One of Israel, or turning their hearts to the Lord;

2 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.

Though he is wise, and able to send evil, and his purpose will not be changed; but he will go against the house of the evil-doers, and against those to whom they are looking for help.

3 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!

For the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses are flesh, and not spirit: and when the Lord's hand is stretched out, the helper and he who is helped will come down together.

4 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.

For the Lord has said to me, As a lion, or a young lion, makes an angry noise over his food, and if a band of herdsmen come out against him, he will not be in fear of their voices, or give up his food for their noise: so the Lord of armies will come down to make war against Mount Zion and its hill.

5 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!

Like birds with outstretched wings, so will the Lord of armies be a cover to Jerusalem; he will be a cover and salvation for it, going over it he will keep it from danger.

6 Return ye unto him against whom the sons of Israel have deeply revolted,

Come back to him who has been so deeply sinned against by the children of Israel.

7 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!

For in that day they will all give up their images of silver and of gold, the sin which they made for themselves.

8 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;

Then the Assyrian will come down by the sword, but not of man; the sword, not of men, will be the cause of his destruction: and he will go in flight from the sword, and his young men will be put to forced work.

9 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.

And his rock will come to nothing because of fear, and his chiefs will go in flight from the flag, says the Lord, whose fire is in Zion, and his altar in Jerusalem.