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.
Terrible things will happen to those who reply on Egypt to help them, trusting in their soldiers’ horses and their many chariots and their strong chariot-drivers, instead of trusting that Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel, will help them.
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.
Yahweh is [very] wise, [but] he also causes people to experience disaster! And [when he decides to do that], he does not change his mind! He will strike/punish the wicked people and [all] those who help them.
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!
The soldiers of Egypt [that you people of Judah are relying on] are humans, not God! And their horses are only horses; they are not [powerful] spirits! So when Yahweh raises his fist to strike/punish the [soldiers of Egypt whom you thought would help you], he will also strike [you who thought that you would be helped], and you and they will stumble and fall down; all of you will die 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.
But this is what Yahweh said to me: “When a huge lion stands over the body of a sheep that he has killed and growls, even if a large group of shepherds comes [to chase/shoo away the lion], even if they shout loudly, the lion will not be afraid and will not leave. Similarly, I, the Commander of the armies of angels, will come down to fight [my enemies] on Zion Hill, [and nothing will hinder me].
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!
[I], the Commander of the armies of angels, will protect Jerusalem like [SIM] a [mother] bird protects [the baby birds in] her nest: I will defend the city and rescue it from its enemies.”
6 Return ye unto him against whom the sons of Israel have deeply revolted,
My people, [even though] you have greatly rebelled against Yahweh, return to him.
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!
When you do that, each of you will throw away the idols that you [SYN] have sinned by making, idols that are [covered with] silver and gold.
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;
[Many of the] Assyrian [soldiers] will be killed, but not by swords that men use. They will be destroyed by the sword of God; and [those who are not killed] will (panic/be very afraid) and flee. And some of them will [be captured] and forced to become slaves.
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.
[Even] their very strong soldiers [MTY] will be terrified; they will abandon their battle flags and run away! Yahweh will cause his enemies who attack Jerusalem to be destroyed. Yahweh’s presence on Zion Hill is [like] a fire, [like] a furnace that blazes in Jerusalem; and that is what Yahweh says [about what will happen to the Assyrian army]!
