Woe to the Obstinate Nation

30 “Woeh to the obstinate children,”i

declares the Lord,

“to those who carry out plans that are not mine,

forming an alliance,j but not by my Spirit,

heaping sin upon sin;

2 who go down to Egyptk

without consultingl me;

who look for help to Pharaoh’s protection,m

to Egypt’s shade for refuge.n

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

Egypt’s shadeo will bring you disgrace.p

4 Though they have officials in Zoanq

and their envoys have arrived in Hanes,

5 everyone will be put to shame

because of a peopler uselesss to them,

who bring neither helpt nor advantage,

but only shame and disgrace.u”

6 A prophecyv concerning the animals of the Negev:w

Through a land of hardship and distress,x

of lionsy and lionesses,

of adders and darting snakes,z

the envoys carry their riches on donkeys’a backs,

their treasuresb on the humps of camels,

to that unprofitable nation,

7 to Egypt, whose help is utterly useless.c

Therefore I call her

Rahabd the Do-Nothing.