16 The reads the enigmatic יָשׁוּבוּ לֹא עָל (yashuvu lo’ ’al) which is taken variously: “they turn, but not upward” (); “they do not turn to the Most High” (); “they return, but not to the most High” (). The editors suggest יָשׁוּבוּ לַבַּעַל (yashuvu labba’al, “they turn to Baal”; so ) or יָשׁוּבוּ לַבְּלִיַּעַל (yashuvu labbéliyya’al, “they turn to Belial”) which is reflected by the .
17 Heb “because their tongue.” The term “tongue” is used figuratively, as a metonymy of cause (tongue) for the effect (prayers to Baal).
18 Heb “this [will] be for scorn in the land of Egypt”; “they will be ridiculed ( shall be mocked) in the land of Egypt.”

In other versions

They return, but not upward;

they are like a treacherous bow;

their princes shall fall by the sword

because of the insolence of their tongue.

This shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.

They do not turn to the Most High;

they are like a faulty bow.

Their leaders will fall by the sword

because of their insolent words.

For this they will be ridiculed

in the land of Egypt.

They turn, but not to what is above;

they are like a faulty bow.

Their leaders will fall by the sword

because of their insolent tongue.

They will be ridiculed for this in the land of Egypt.

They look everywhere except to the Most High.

They are as useless as a crooked bow.

Their leaders will be killed by their enemies

because of their insolence toward me.

Then the people of Egypt

will laugh at them.

They turn, not to the Most High,

like a slack bow;

their officials will fall by the sword

because of the anger of their tongue.

This is their scorn

in the land of Egypt.

They return, but not to the most High:

They are like a deceitful bow:

Their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue:

This shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.

Public Domain