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,

7 to Egypt, whose help is utterly useless.

Therefore I call her

Rahab the Do-Nothing.

8 Go now, write it on a tablet for them,

inscribe it on a scroll,

that for the days to come

it may be an everlasting witness.

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.

7 For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose:

Therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still.

8 Now go, write it before them in a table,

And note it in a book,

That it may be for the time to come

For ever and ever:

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.

7 Egypt’s promises are worthless!

Therefore, I call her Rahab—

the Harmless Dragon.

8 Now go and write down these words.

Write them in a book.

They will stand until the end of time

as a witness

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;

7 For the Egyptians shall help in vain and to no purpose.

Therefore I have called her

Rahab-Hem-Shebeth.

8 Now go, write it before them on a tablet,

And note it on a scroll,

That it may be for time to come,

Forever and ever:

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,

7 to Egypt whose help is useless.

So I call that country Rahab the Do-Nothing.

8 Now write this on a sign for the people,

write this on a scroll,

so that for the days to come

this will be a witness forever.

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. 7 For Egypt helpeth in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I called her Rahab that sitteth still.

8 Now go, write it before them on a tablet, and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever.

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. 7 For Egypt shall help in vain, and to no purpose; therefore have I named her, Arrogance, that doeth nothing.

8 Now go, write it before them on a tablet, and record it in a book, that it may be for the time to come, as a witness for ever,

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. 

7 Egypt’s help is completely useless. 

That is why I call it, ‘Rahabwho sits still.’ 

8 Now, write this on a tablet for them, and inscribe it in a book 

so that it will be there in the future as a permanent witness. 

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.

7 Egypt’s help is completely worthless;

therefore, I call her:

Rahab Who Just Sits.

8 Go now, write it on a tablet in their presence

and inscribe it on a scroll;

it will be for the future,

forever and ever.

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.

7 For Egypt’s help is worthless and empty,

therefore I have called her,

“Rahab who sits still.”

8 Go now, write it before them on a tablet,

and inscribe it in a book,

so that it may be for the time to come

as a witness forever.

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.

7 For Egyptians help with vanity and emptiness,

therefore I have called this one “Rahab, they are sitting.”

8 Now go, write it on a tablet with them,

and inscribe it on a scroll,

that it may be for the time to come,

forever, forever.

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.

7 They travel to Egypt, whose help is totally useless.

That’s why I call it Rahab the Do-Nothing.

8 The Lord said to me, “Go now.

Write on a tablet for the people of Judah

what I am about to say.

Also write it on a scroll.

In days to come

it will be a witness that lasts forever.

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;

7 Even Egypt, whose help is vain and empty.

Therefore, I have called her

“Rahab who has been exterminated.”

8 Now go, write it on a tablet before them

And inscribe it on a scroll,

That it may serve in the time to come

As a witness forever.