Isaiah 19:11–16

The princes of Zoan are utterly foolish;

the wisest counselors of Pharaoh give stupid counsel.

How can you say to Pharaoh,

“I am a son of the wise,

a son of ancient kings”?

Where then are your wise men?

Let them tell you

that they might know what the Lord of hosts has purposed against Egypt.

The princes of Zoan have become fools,

and the princes of Memphis are deluded;

those who are the cornerstones of her tribes

have made Egypt stagger.

The Lord has mingled within her a spirit of confusion,

and they will make Egypt stagger in all its deeds,

as a drunken man staggers in his vomit.

And there will be nothing for Egypt

that head or tail, palm branch or reed, may do.

In that day the Egyptians will be like women, and tremble with fear before the hand that the Lord of hosts shakes over them.

The officials of Zoan are nothing but fools;

the wise counselors of Pharaoh give senseless advice.

How can you say to Pharaoh,

“I am one of the wise men,

a disciple of the ancient kings”?

Where are your wise men now?

Let them show you and make known

what the Lord Almighty

has planned against Egypt.

The officials of Zoan have become fools,

the leaders of Memphis are deceived;

the cornerstones of her peoples

have led Egypt astray.

The Lord has poured into them

a spirit of dizziness;

they make Egypt stagger in all that she does,

as a drunkard staggers around in his vomit.

There is nothing Egypt can do—

head or tail, palm branch or reed.

In that day the Egyptians will become weaklings. They will shudder with fear at the uplifted hand that the Lord Almighty raises against them.

The princes of Zoan are complete fools;

Pharaoh’s wisest advisers give stupid advice!

How can you say to Pharaoh,

“I am one of the wise,

a student of eastern kings”?

Where then are your wise men?

Let them tell you and reveal

what the Lord of Armies has planned against Egypt.

The princes of Zoan have been fools;

the princes of Memphis are deceived.

Her tribal chieftains have led Egypt astray.

The Lord has mixed within her a spirit of confusion.

The leaders have made Egypt stagger in all she does,

as a drunkard staggers in his vomit.

No head or tail, palm or reed,

will be able to do anything for Egypt.

On that day Egypt will be like women and will tremble with fear because of the threatening hand of the Lord of Armies when he raises it against them.

What fools are the officials of Zoan!

Their best counsel to the king of Egypt is stupid and wrong.

Will they still boast to Pharaoh of their wisdom?

Will they dare brag about all their wise ancestors?

Where are your wise counselors, Pharaoh?

Let them tell you what God plans,

what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies is going to do to Egypt.

The officials of Zoan are fools,

and the officials of Memphis are deluded.

The leaders of the people

have led Egypt astray.

The Lord has sent a spirit of foolishness on them,

so all their suggestions are wrong.

They cause Egypt to stagger

like a drunk in his vomit.

There is nothing Egypt can do.

All are helpless—

the head and the tail,

the noble palm branch and the lowly reed.

In that day the Egyptians will be as weak as women. They will cower in fear beneath the upraised fist of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

Surely the princes of Zoan are foolish;

the wise of the counselors of Pharaoh give senseless counsel.

How can you say to Pharaoh,

“I myself am a son of sages,

a descendant of ancient kings”?

Where are your sages then?

Now, let them tell you,

and let them know what Yahweh of hosts has planned against Egypt.

The princes of Zoan have become foolish;

the princes of Memphis are deceived;

the leaders of her tribes have led Egypt astray.

Yahweh has mixed a spirit of confusion into her midst,

and they have caused Egypt to stagger in all of its doings,

as when a drunkard staggers in his vomit.

And there will be nothing for Egypt to do,

head or tail, palm branch or reed.

On that day, Egypt will be like women, and will tremble and be afraid before the waving hand of Yahweh of hosts that he is waving against it.

Surely the princes of Zoan are fools,

The counsel of the wise counsellers of Pharaoh is become brutish:

How say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise,

The son of ancient kings?

Where are they? where are thy wise men?

And let them tell thee now,

And let them know what the Lord of hosts hath purposed upon Egypt.

The princes of Zoan are become fools,

The princes of Noph are deceived;

They have also seduced Egypt, even they that are the stay of the tribes thereof.

The Lord hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof:

And they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof,

As a drunken man staggereth in his vomit.

Neither shall there be any work for Egypt,

Which the head or tail, branch or rush, may do.

In that day shall Egypt be like unto women:

And it shall be afraid and fear

Because of the shaking of the hand of the Lord of hosts,

Which he shaketh over it.