Isaiah 31:1–5

Woe to Those Who Go Down to Egypt

31Woe¹ to ^vthose who go down to Egypt for help

and rely on horses,

who ^wtrust in chariots because they are many

and in horsemen because they are very strong,

but ^xdo not look to the Holy One of Israel

or consult the Lord!

²And ^yyet he is wise and brings disaster;

^zhe does not call back his words,

but ^awill arise against the house of the evildoers

and against the helpers of ^bthose who work iniquity.

³The Egyptians are man, and not God,

and their horses ^care flesh, and not spirit.

When the Lord stretches out his hand,

the helper will stumble, and he who is helped will fall,

and they will all perish together.

⁴For thus the Lord said to me,

^d“As a lion or a young lion growls over his prey,

and when a band of shepherds is called out against him

he is not terrified by their shouting

or daunted at their noise,

^eso the Lord of hosts will come down

to fight² on Mount Zion and on its hill.

^5fLike birds hovering, so the Lord of hosts

will protect Jerusalem;

he will protect and deliver it;

he will spare and rescue it.”