1 I t is bad for those who go down to Egypt for help, and trust in the many horses and war-wagons, and in the much strength of their horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel or ask the Lord for help.

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses and trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but they look not to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek and consult the Lord!

2 Y et He is wise and brings trouble, and does not take back His words. He will go against the house of wrong-doers, and against the helpers of those who sin.

And yet He is wise and brings calamity and does not retract His words; He will arise against the house (the whole race) of evildoers and against the helpers of those who work iniquity.

3 T he Egyptians are men, and not God. Their horses are flesh and not spirit. The Lord puts out His hand, and the helper and the one who is helped will fall. All of them will be destroyed together.

Now the Egyptians are men and not God, and their horses are flesh and not spirit; and when the Lord stretches out His hand, both who helps will stumble, and who is helped will fall, and they will all perish and be consumed together.

4 F or the Lord has said to me, “As the lion or the young lion makes noise over the food he has killed, and when a group of shepherds go against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, or troubled by their noise. In the same way, the Lord of All will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its hill.”

For the Lord has said to me, As the lion or the young lion growls over his prey—and though a large band of shepherds is called out against him, he will not be terrified at their voice or daunted at their noise—so the Lord of hosts will come down to fight upon Mount Zion and upon its hills.

5 L ike flying birds, the Lord of All will keep Jerusalem safe. He will keep it safe and bring it out of trouble. He will pass over and save it.

Like birds hovering, so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem; He will protect and deliver it, He will pass over and spare and preserve it.

6 O sons of Israel, return to Him against Whom you have sinned much.

Return, O children of Israel, to Him against Whom you have so deeply plunged into revolt.

7 F or in that day every man will throw away his silver and gold objects of worship, which his sinful hands have made.

For in that day every man of you will cast away his idols of silver and his idols of gold, which your own hands have sinfully made for you.

8 A nd the Assyrian will fall by a sword that is not of man, a sword that man has had no part of will destroy him. He will run from the sword, and his young men will be made to work hard.

Then the Assyrian shall fall by a sword not of man; and a sword, not of men, shall devour him. And he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall be subjected to forced labor.

9 “ His safe place will pass away because of fear. And his rulers will be afraid of the flags lifted up,” says the Lord, Whose fire is in Zion and Whose place of burning is in Jerusalem.

he shall pass beyond his rock because of terror; even his officers shall desert the standard in fear and panic, says the Lord, Whose fire is in Zion and Whose furnace is in Jerusalem.