Isaiah 31

Woe to Those Who Rely on Egypt

31Woe^p to those who go down to Egypt^q for help,

who rely on horses,^r

who trust in the multitude of their chariots^s

and in the great strength of their horsemen,

but do not look to the Holy One^t of Israel,

or seek help from the Lord.^u

²Yet he too is wise^v and can bring disaster;^w

he does not take back his words.^x

He will rise up against that wicked nation,^y

against those who help evildoers.

³But the Egyptians^z are mere mortals and not God;^a

their horses^b are flesh and not spirit.

When the Lord stretches out his hand,^c

those who help will stumble,

those who are helped^d will fall;

all will perish together.^e

⁴This is what the Lord says to me:

“As a lion^f growls,

a great lion over its prey—

and though a whole band of shepherds^g

is called together against it,

it is not frightened by their shouts

or disturbed by their clamor^h—

so the Lord Almighty will come downⁱ

to do battle on Mount Zion and on its heights.

⁵Like birds hovering^j overhead,

the Lord Almighty will shield^k Jerusalem;

he will shield it and deliver^l it,

he will ‘pass over’^m it and will rescue it.”

⁶Return,ⁿ you Israelites, to the One you have so greatly revolted^o against. ⁷For in that day^p every one of you will reject the idols of silver and gold^q your sinful hands have made.^r

⁸“Assyria^s will fall by no human sword;

a sword, not of mortals, will devour^t them.

They will flee before the sword

and their young men will be put to forced labor.^u

⁹Their stronghold^v will fall because of terror;

at the sight of the battle standard^w their commanders will panic,^x”

declares the Lord,

whose fire^y is in Zion,

whose furnace^z is in Jerusalem.