Isaiah, chapter 31

Don't Trust the Power of Egypt

You are in for trouble if you go to Egypt for help,

or if you depend on an army of chariots

or a powerful cavalry.

Instead you should depend on and trust

the holy Lord God of IsraelH.

²The Lord isn't stupid! He does what he promises,

and he can bring doom.

If you are cruel yourself, or help those who are evil,

you will be destroyed.

³The Egyptians are mere humans. They aren't God.

Their horses are made of flesh; they can't live forever.

When the Lord shows his power,

he will destroy the Egyptians and all who depend on them.

Together they will fall.

⁴The Lord All-Powerful said to me,

“I will roar and attack like a fearless lion

not frightened by the shouts of shepherds

trying to protect their sheep.

That's how I will come down and fight on Mount ZionI.

⁵I, the Lord All-Powerful, will protect Jerusalem

like a mother bird circling over her nest.”

Come Back to the Lord

⁶People of Israel, come back!

You have completely turned from the Lord.

⁷The time is coming when you will throw away

your idols of silver and goldO,

made by your sinful hands.

⁸The Assyrians will be killed,

but not by the swords of humans.

Their young men will try to escape,

but they will be captured and forced into slavery.

⁹Their fortress* will fallH when terror strikes;

their army officers will be frightened

and run from the battle.

This is what the Lord has said,

the Lord whose fiery furnace is built on Mount ZionI.