2 who go down to Egypt

without consulting me;

who look for help to Pharaoh’s protection,

to Egypt’s shade for refuge.

3 But Pharaoh’s protection will be to your shame,

Egypt’s shade will bring you disgrace.

4 Though they have officials in Zoan

and their envoys have arrived in Hanes,

5 everyone will be put to shame

because of a people useless to them,

who bring neither help nor advantage,

but only shame and disgrace.”

6 A prophecy concerning the animals of the Negev:

Through a land of hardship and distress,

of lions and lionesses,

of adders and darting snakes,

the envoys carry their riches on donkeys’ backs,

their treasures on the humps of camels,

to that unprofitable nation,

2 That walk to go down into Egypt,

And have not asked at my mouth;

To strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh,

And to trust in the shadow of Egypt!

3 Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame,

And the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.

4 For his princes were at Zoan,

And his ambassadors came to Hanes.

5 They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them,

Nor be an help nor profit,

But a shame, and also a reproach.

6 The burden of the beasts of the south:

Into the land of trouble and anguish,

From whence come the young and old lion,

The viper and fiery flying serpent,

They will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses,

And their treasures upon the bunches of camels,

To a people that shall not profit them.

2 For without consulting me,

you have gone down to Egypt for help.

You have put your trust in Pharaoh’s protection.

You have tried to hide in his shade.

3 But by trusting Pharaoh, you will be humiliated,

and by depending on him, you will be disgraced.

4 For though his power extends to Zoan

and his officials have arrived in Hanes,

5 all who trust in him will be ashamed.

He will not help you.

Instead, he will disgrace you.”

6 This message came to me concerning the animals in the Negev:

The caravan moves slowly

across the terrible desert to Egypt—

donkeys weighed down with riches

and camels loaded with treasure—

all to pay for Egypt’s protection.

They travel through the wilderness,

a place of lionesses and lions,

a place where vipers and poisonous snakes live.

All this, and Egypt will give you nothing in return.

2 Who walk to go down to Egypt,

And have not asked My advice,

To strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh,

And to trust in the shadow of Egypt!

3 Therefore the strength of Pharaoh

Shall be your shame,

And trust in the shadow of Egypt

Shall be your humiliation.

4 For his princes were at Zoan,

And his ambassadors came to Hanes.

5 They were all ashamed of a people who could not benefit them,

Or be help or benefit,

But a shame and also a reproach.”

6 The burden against the beasts of the South.

Through a land of trouble and anguish,

From which came the lioness and lion,

The viper and fiery flying serpent,

They will carry their riches on the backs of young donkeys,

And their treasures on the humps of camels,

To a people who shall not profit;

2 They go down to Egypt for help

without asking me about it first.

They hope they will be saved by the king of Egypt;

they want Egypt to protect them.

3 But hiding in Egypt will bring you only shame;

Egypt’s protection will only disappoint you.

4 Your officers have gone to Zoan,

and your messengers have gone to Hanes,

5 but they will be put to shame,

because Egypt is useless to them.

It will give no help and will be of no use;

it will cause them only shame and embarrassment.”

6 This is a message about the animals in southern Judah:

Southern Judah is a dangerous place

full of lions and lionesses,

poisonous snakes and darting snakes.

The messengers travel through there with their wealth on the backs of donkeys

and their treasure on the backs of camels.

They carry them to a nation that cannot help them,

2 that set out to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to take refuge in the shadow of Egypt! 3 Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the refuge in the shadow of Egypt your confusion. 4 For their princes are at Zoan, and their ambassadors are come to Hanes. 5 They shall all be ashamed because of a people that cannot profit them, that are not a help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.

6 The burden of the beasts of the South.

Through the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the lioness and the lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the humps of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.

2 who walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked of my mouth, —to take refuge under the protection of Pharaoh, and trust in the shadow of Egypt! 3 For to you the protection of Pharaoh shall be a shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt a confusion. 4 For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to Hanes. 5 They were all ashamed of a people that did not profit them, nor were a help or profit, but a shame, and also a reproach. 6 —The burden of the beasts of the south: Through a land of trouble and anguish, whence come the lioness and lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they carry their riches upon the shoulders of asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to the people that shall not profit them.

2 They go to Egypt without asking me. 

They look for shelter under Pharaoh’s protection 

and look for refuge in Egypt’s shadow. 

3 But Pharaoh’s protection will be their shame, 

and the refuge in Egypt’s shadow will be their disgrace. 

4 Although Pharaoh’s officials are in Zoan 

and his messengers have reached Hanes, 

5 the people of Judah will be put to shame 

because that nation can’t help them. 

That nation can’t give aid or help to them. 

It can only offer shame and disgrace.” 

6 This is the divine revelation about the animals in the Negev. 

“My people travel through lands 

where they experience distress and hardship. 

Lions and lionesses live there. 

Vipers and poisonous snakes live there. 

They carry their riches on the backs of young donkeys 

and their treasures on the humps of camels 

to a nation that can’t help them. 

2 They set out to go down to Egypt

without asking My advice,

in order to seek shelter under Pharaoh’s protection

and take refuge in Egypt’s shadow.

3 But Pharaoh’s protection will become your shame,

and refuge in Egypt’s shadow your disgrace.

4 For though his princes are at Zoan

and his messengers reach as far as Hanes,

5 everyone will be ashamed

because of a people who can’t help.

They are of no benefit, they are no help;

they are good for nothing but shame and reproach.

6 An oracle about the animals of the Negev:

Through a land of trouble and distress,

of lioness and lion,

of viper and flying serpent,

they carry their wealth on the backs of donkeys

and their treasures on the humps of camels,

to a people who will not help them.

2 who set out to go down to Egypt

without asking for my counsel,

to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh,

and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt;

3 Therefore the protection of Pharaoh shall become your shame,

and the shelter in the shadow of Egypt your humiliation.

4 For though his officials are at Zoan

and his envoys reach Hanes,

5 everyone comes to shame

through a people that cannot profit them,

that brings neither help nor profit,

but shame and disgrace.

6 An oracle concerning the animals of the Negeb.

Through a land of trouble and distress,

of lioness and roaring lion,

of viper and flying serpent,

they carry their riches on the backs of donkeys,

and their treasures on the humps of camels,

to a people that cannot profit them.

2 Who go to go down to Egypt,

but they do not ask of my mouth,

to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh

and to take refuge in the shadow of Egypt.

3 And the protection of Pharaoh shall be shame to you,

and the refuge in the shadow of Egypt, humiliation.

4 For his officials are at Zoan,

and his envoys reach to Hanes.

5 Everyone will start to stink because of a people that cannot profit them,

not for help and not for profiting,

but for shame and also for disgrace.”

6 An oracle of the animals of the Negev:

Through a land of trouble and distress,

of lioness and lion,

among them are snake and flying serpent;

they carry their wealth on the backs of male donkeys

and their treasures on the humps of camels,

to a people that cannot profit them.

2 They go down to Egypt

without asking me for advice.

They look to Pharaoh to help them.

They ask Egypt to keep them safe.

3 But looking to Pharaoh will only bring them shame.

Asking Egypt for help will bring them dishonor.

4 Their officials have gone to the city of Zoan.

Their messengers have arrived in Hanes.

5 But the people of Judah will be put to shame

because they are trusting in a nation that is useless to them.

Egypt will not bring them any help or advantage.

Instead, it will bring them shame and dishonor.”

6 Here is a message the Lord gave me about the animals in the Negev Desert.

Judah’s messengers carry their riches on the backs of donkeys.

They carry their treasures on the humps of camels.

They travel through a land of danger and suffering.

It’s a land that is filled with lions.

Poisonous snakes are also there.

The messengers travel to a nation

that can’t do them any good.

2 Who proceed down to Egypt

Without consulting Me,

To take refuge in the safety of Pharaoh

And to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt!

3 “Therefore the safety of Pharaoh will be your shame

And the shelter in the shadow of Egypt, your humiliation.

4 “For their princes are at Zoan

And their ambassadors arrive at Hanes.

5 “Everyone will be ashamed because of a people who cannot profit them,

Who are not for help or profit, but for shame and also for reproach.”

6 The oracle concerning the beasts of the Negev.

Through a land of distress and anguish,

From where come lioness and lion, viper and flying serpent,

They carry their riches on the backs of young donkeys

And their treasures on camels’ humps,

To a people who cannot profit them;