Isaiah 31

1Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!

2Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words: but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity.footnote a

3Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together.

4For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the LORD of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof.footnote b

5As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.

6Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted.

7For in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you for a sin.footnote c

8Then shall the Assyrian fall with the sword, not of a mighty man; and the sword, not of a mean man, shall devour him: but he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall be discomfited.footnote dfootnote e

9And he shall pass over to his strong hold for fear, and his princes shall be afraid of the ensign, saith the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.footnote ffootnote g

Woe to Those Who Rely on Egypt

1Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help,who rely on horses,who trust in their abundance of chariotsand in their multitude of horsemen.They do not look to the Holy One of Israel;they do not seek the LORD. 2Yet He too is wise and brings disaster;He does not call back His words.He will rise up against the house of the wickedand against the allies of evildoers. 3But the Egyptians are men, not God;their horses are flesh, not spirit.When the LORD stretches out His hand,the helper will stumble,and the one he helps will fall;both will perish together.

4For this is what the LORD has said to me:“Like a lion roaringor a young lion over its prey—and though a band of shepherds is called out against it,it is not terrified by their shoutingor subdued by their clamor—so the LORD of Hosts will come downto do battle on Mount Zion and its heights. 5Like birds hovering overhead,so the LORD of Hosts will protect Jerusalem.He will shield it and deliver it;He will pass over it and preserve it.”

6Return to the One against whom you have so blatantly rebelled, O children of Israel. 7For on that day, every one of you will reject the idols of silver and gold that your own hands have sinfully made.

8“Then Assyria will fall,but not by the sword of man;a sword will devour them,but not one made by mortals.They will flee before the sword,and their young men will be put to forced labor. 9Their rock will pass away for fear,and their princes will panic at the sight of the battle standard,”declares the LORD, whose fire is in Zion,whose furnace is in Jerusalem.