< 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.
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and lean on horses, and trust in chariots (for they are many) and in horsemen (for they are countless). But they are not concerned about the Holy One of Israel, nor do they seek Yahweh!
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.
Yet he is wise, and he will bring disaster and will not retract his words. He will arise against the evil house and against the helpers of those who commit sin.
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!
Egypt is a man and not God, their horses flesh and not spirit. When Yahweh reaches out with his hand, both the one who helps will stumble, and the one who is helped will fall; both will perish 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.
This is what Yahweh says to me, “As a lion, even a young lion, growls over its torn prey, when a group of shepherds is called out against it, but it does not tremble at their voices, nor creep away from their sound; thus Yahweh of hosts will descend to fight on Mount Zion, on that 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 in flight, so Yahweh of hosts will protect Jerusalem; he will protect and rescue as he passes over it and preserves it.
6 Return ye unto him against whom the sons of Israel have deeply revolted,
Return to him from whom you have deeply turned away, people 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 each one will get rid of his idols of silver and his idols of gold that your own hands have sinfully made.
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;
Assyria will fall by the sword; a sword not wielded by man will consume him. He will flee from the sword, and his young men will be forced to do hard labor.
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.
They will lose all confidence because of terror, and his princes will be afraid at the sight of Yahweh's battle flag— this is Yahweh's declaration—whose fire is in Zion and whose firepot is in Jerusalem.”

< Isaiah 31 >