30The Lord has spoken: “Those who rule Judah are doomed because they rebel against me. They follow plans that I did not make, and sign treaties against my will, piling one sin on another. ²They go to Egypt for help without asking for my advice. They want Egypt to protect them, so they put their trust in Egypt’s king. ³But the king will be powerless to help them, and Egypt’s protection will end in disaster. ⁴Although their ambassadors have already arrived at the Egyptian cities of Zoan and Hanes, ⁵the people of Judah will regret that they ever trusted that unreliable nation, a nation that fails them when they expect help.”

⁶This is God’s message about the animals of the southern desert: “The ambassadors travel through dangerous country, where lions live and where there are poisonous snakes and flying dragons. They load their donkeys and camels with expensive gifts for a nation that cannot give them any help. ⁷The help that Egypt gives is useless. So I have nicknamed Egypt, ‘The Harmless Dragon’ ”.

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