Isaiah 31

Woe to Those Who Go Down to Egypt

1Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help,
leaning on horses,
trusting chariots because they are many
and horsemen because they are very strong,
but not looking to Israel’s Holy One
or seeking the LORD! 2Yet he too is wise; he brings disaster
and does not take back his words.
He will rise against the house of evildoers
and against the helpers of those who do wrong. 3The Egyptians are human, not God;
their horses are flesh, not spirit.
When the LORD stretches out his hand,
the helper will stumble and the helped will fall;
together they will all perish. 4For the LORD said this to me:
“As a lion, a young lion, growls over its prey,
though a whole band of shepherds is called against it,
not frightened by their voices
nor subdued by their uproar,
so the LORD of hosts will descend
to fight on Mount Zion and its hill.

5Like birds in flight,
the LORD of hosts will shield Jerusalem;
shielding, he will deliver it;
passing over, he will rescue it.” 6Return to the one against whom you Israelites have rebelled so deeply. 7On that day each of you will reject the silver idols and gold idols your own hands made for you as a sin. 8“Assyria will fall by a sword not of man;
a sword not of humanity will devour him.
He will flee before the sword,
and his young men will become forced laborers.

9His rock will pass away in terror;
his officials will panic at the signal,”
declares the LORD, whose fire is in Zion,
whose furnace is in Jerusalem.