1 “Woe to the rebellious children,” says the Lord,

“who carry out a plan, but not mine;

and who make a league, but not of my spirit,

that they may add sin to sin;

2 who set out to go down to Egypt,

without asking for my counsel,

to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh,

and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt!

3 Therefore shall the protection of Pharaoh turn to your shame,

and the shelter in the shadow of Egypt to your humiliation.

4 For though his officials are at Zoan

and his envoys reach Hanes,

5 every one comes to shame through a people that cannot profit them,

that brings neither help nor profit, but shame and disgrace.”

6 An oracle on the beasts of the Negeb.

Through a land of trouble and anguish,

from where come the lioness and the lion,

the viper and the flying serpent,

they carry their riches on the backs of asses,

and their treasures on the humps of camels,

to a people that cannot profit them.

7 For Egypt’s help is worthless and empty,

therefore I have called her “Rahab who sits still.”