Isaiah 31

1 Woe 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 do not look to the Holy One of Israel, and they do not seek the LORD.

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and lean on horses, and trust in chariots (for they are many) and in horsemen (for they are countless). But they are not concerned about the Holy One of Israel, nor do they seek Yahweh!

2 Yet 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 those who help evildoers.

Yet he is wise, and he will bring disaster and will not retract his words. He will arise against the evil house and against the helpers of those who commit sin.

3 Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD stretches out his hand, both he who helps shall stumble, and he who is helped shall fall, and they all shall be consumed together.

Egypt is a man and not God, their horses flesh and not spirit. When Yahweh reaches out with his hand, both the one who helps will stumble, and the one who is helped will fall; both will perish together.

4 For thus says the LORD 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 the noise of them, so the LORD of hosts will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its heights.

This is what Yahweh says to me, “As a lion, even a young lion, growls over its torn prey, when a group of shepherds is called out against it, but it does not tremble at their voices, nor creep away from their sound; thus Yahweh of hosts will descend to fight on Mount Zion, on that hill.

5 As birds hovering, so the LORD of hosts will protect Jerusalem. He will protect and deliver it. He will pass over and preserve it."

Like birds in flight, so Yahweh of hosts will protect Jerusalem; he will protect and rescue as he passes over it and preserves it.

6 Return to him from whom you have deeply revolted, children of Israel.

Return to him from whom you have deeply turned away, people of Israel.

7 For in that day everyone shall cast away his idols of silver and his idols of gold—sin which your own hands have made for you.

For in that day each one will get rid of his idols of silver and his idols of gold that your own hands have sinfully made.

8 "The Assyrian will fall by the sword, not of man; and the sword, not of mankind, shall devour him. He will flee from the sword, and his young men will become subject to forced labor.

Assyria will fall by the sword; a sword not wielded by man will consume him. He will flee from the sword, and his young men will be forced to do hard labor.

9 His rock will pass away by reason of terror, and his officers will be afraid of the banner," says the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.

They will lose all confidence because of terror, and his princes will be afraid at the sight of Yahweh's battle flag— this is Yahweh's declaration—whose fire is in Zion and whose firepot is in Jerusalem.”