Woe for Relying on Egypt

¹Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help,

and rely on horses,

and trust in chariots because they are many,

and in horsemen because they are very strong,

but they don’t look to the Holy One of Israel,

and they don’t seek YHWH!

²Yet he also is wise, and will bring disaster,

and will not call back his words, but will arise against the house of the evildoers,

and against the help of those who work iniquity.

³Now the Egyptians are men, and not God;

and their horses flesh, and not spirit.

When YHWH stretches out his hand, both he who helps will stumble,

and he who is helped will fall,

and they all will be consumed together.

⁴For YHWH says to me,

“As the lion and the young lion growling over his prey,

if a multitude of shepherds is called together against him,

will not be dismayed at their voice,

nor abase himself for their noise,

so YHWH Almighty will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its heights.

⁵As birds hovering, so YHWH Almighty will protect Jerusalem.

Hᴇ will protect and deliver it.

Hᴇ will pass over and preserve it.”

⁶Y’all must return to the one y’all have greatly rebelled, children of Israel.

⁷For in that day everyone will reject their idols of silver and gold, which y’all’s own hands have sinfully made for y’all.

⁸“The Assyrian will fall by the sword, not of man;

and the sword not of humankind will devour him.

He will flee from the sword,

and his young men will become subject to forced labor.

⁹His rock will pass away by reason of terror,

and his princes will be afraid of the banner,”

says YHWH, whose fire is in Zion,

and his furnace in Jerusalem.