Isaiah 31

Egypt Will Disappoint

31:1 Those who go down to Egypt for help are as good as dead,¹

those who rely on war horses,

and trust in Egypt’s many chariots²

and in their many, many horsemen.³

But they do not rely on the Holy One of Israel⁴

and do not seek help from the Lord.

31:2 Yet he too is wise⁵ and he will bring disaster;

he does not retract his decree.⁶

He will attack the wicked nation,⁷

and the nation that helps⁸ those who commit sin.⁹

31:3 The Egyptians are mere humans, not God;

their horses are made of flesh, not spirit.

The Lord will strike with¹⁰ his hand;

the one who helps will stumble

and the one being helped will fall.

Together they will perish.¹¹

The Lord Will Defend Zion

31:4 Indeed, this is what the Lord says to me:

“The Lord will be like a growling lion,

like a young lion growling over its prey.¹²

Though a whole group of shepherds gathers against it,

it is not afraid of their shouts

or intimidated by their yelling.¹³

In this same way the Lord who commands armies will descend

to do battle on Mount Zion and on its hill.¹⁴

31:5 Just as birds hover over a nest,¹⁵

so the Lord who commands armies will protect Jerusalem.¹⁶

He will protect and deliver it;

as he passes over¹⁷ he will rescue it.

31:6 You Israelites! Return to the one against whom you have so blatantly rebelled!¹⁸ 31:7 For at that time¹⁹ everyone will get rid of²⁰ the silver and gold idols your hands sinfully made.²¹

31:8 Assyria will fall by a sword, but not one human-made;²²

a sword not made by humankind will destroy them.²³

They will run away from this sword²⁴

and their young men will be forced to do hard labor.

31:9 They will surrender their stronghold²⁵ because of fear;²⁶

their officers will be afraid of the Lord’s battle flag.”²⁷

This is what the Lord says –

the one whose fire is in Zion,

whose firepot is in Jerusalem.²⁸

Next Chapter