< Isaiah 31 >

1 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.
وَيْلٌ لِلْمُنْحَدِرِينَ إِلَى مِصْرَ طَلَباً لِلْعَوْنِ، الْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ عَلَى الْخَيْلِ، الْوَاثِقِينَ بِكَثْرَةِ الْمَرْكَبَاتِ وَبِبَأْسِ الْفُرْسَانِ، مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَلْتَفِتُوا إِلَى قُدُّوسِ إِسْرَائِيلَ، أَوْ يَطْلُبُوا مَشُورَةَ الرَّبِّ.١
2 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.
وَمَعَ ذَلِكَ فَهُوَ حَكِيمٌ يَجْلِبُ الشَّرَّ، وَلا يَنْقُضُ كَلامَهُ بَلْ سَيَهُبُّ لِيُعَاقِبَ بَيْتَ الأَشْرَارِ وَنَاصِري فَعَلَةِ الإِثْمِ.٢
3 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.
لَيْسَ الْمِصْرِيُّونَ آلِهَةً بَلْ بَشَراً، وَخُيُولُهُمْ مُجَرَّدُ أَجْسَادٍ وَلَيْسَتْ أَرْوَاحاً، وَعِنْدَمَا يَمُدُّ الرَّبُّ يَدَهُ، يَتَعَثَّرُ الْمُعِينُ وَيَسْقُطُ الْمُسْتَعِينُ، وَيَهْلِكَانِ كِلاهُمَا مَعاً.٣
4 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].
لأَنَّهُ هَكَذَا قَالَ الرَّبُّ لِي: «كَمَا يُزَمْجِرُ الأَسَدُ أَوِ الشِّبْلُ عَلَى فَرِيسَتِهِ، مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَخْشَى مِنْ صَرَخَاتِ جَمَاعَةِ الرُّعَاةِ الْمُتَأَلِّبِينَ عَلَيْهِ، أَوْ يَفْزَعَ مِنْ جَلَبَتِهِمْ، هَكَذَا يُقْبِلُ الرَّبُّ الْقَدِيرُ لِيُحَارِبَ عَنْ جَبَلِ صِهْيَوْنَ.٤
5 [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.”
وَيَرِفُّ الرَّبُّ الْقَدِيرُ عَلَى أُورُشَلِيمَ لِحِمَايَتِهَا كَالطُّيُورِ الْحَائِمَةِ فَوْقَ أَعْشَاشِهَا، فَيَحْمِي وَيُنْقِذُ وَيَعْفُو وَيُخَلِّصُ.٥
6 My people, [even though] you have greatly rebelled against Yahweh, return to him.
ارْجِعُوا أَيُّهَا الإِسْرَائِيلِيُّونَ إِلَى مَنْ تَمَرَّدْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَشَدَّ التَّمَرُّدِ،٦
7 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.
لأَنَّهُ فِي ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ يَنْبِذُ كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ أَصْنَامَهُ الْفِضِّيَّةَ وَأَوْثَانَهُ الذَّهَبِيَّةَ الَّتِي صَنَعَهَا بِيَدِهِ الْخَاطِئَةِ.٧
8 [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.
وَيُصْرَعُ الأَشُورِيُّونَ وَيُلْتَهَمُونَ، وَلَكِنْ لَيْسَ بِسَيْفِ بَشَرٍ، وَيَفِرُّونَ مِنْ أَمَامِ السَّيْفِ، وَيُسَاقُ فِتْيَانُهُمْ إِلَى الأَعْمَالِ الشَّاقَّةِ،٨
9 [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]!
وَتَفْنَى صُخُورُهُمْ مِنَ الْفَزَعِ، وَيُوَلِّي قَادَتُهُمُ الأَدْبَارَ عِنْدَمَا يَرَوْنَ عَلَمَ إِسْرَائِيلَ». هَذَا مَا يَقُولُهُ الرَّبُّ الَّذِي نَارُهُ فِي صِهْيَوْنَ، وَتَنُّورُهُ فِي أُورُشَلِيمَ.٩

< Isaiah 31 >