Isaiah 31

1Woe to them that 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 look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek Jehovah!

1How terrible it will be for those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses and trust in chariots because there are so many of them, and depend on horsemen because they are very strong. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel or seek the LORD for help!

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

2Yet the LORD is also wise and will bring disaster; he does not take back his warnings. He will rise up against the families of those who do evil and against those who help people who do wrong.

3Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit: and when Jehovah shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall stumble, and he that is helped shall fall, and they all shall be consumed together.

3The Egyptians are only human, not God; their horses are just flesh and blood, not spirit. When the LORD reaches out his hand, the one who helps will stumble and the one being helped will fall; they will all perish together.

4For thus saith Jehovah unto me, As the lion and the young lion growling over his prey, if a multitude of shepherds be called forth against him, will not be dismayed at their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so will Jehovah of hosts come down to fight upon mount Zion, and upon the hill thereof.

4This is what the LORD said to me: 'As a lion or a young lion growls over its prey and is not frightened by the shouts of a whole group of shepherds called against it, so the LORD of Heaven’s Armies will come down to fight on Mount Zion and its hill.'

5As birds hovering, so will Jehovah of hosts protect Jerusalem; he will protect and deliver it, he will pass over and preserve it.

5Like birds hovering over their nests, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies will protect Jerusalem. He will shield it and deliver it; he will pass over it and rescue it.

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

6Return to the one you have so deeply rebelled against, you people of Israel.

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

7For on that day, every one of you will throw away the silver and gold idols your sinful hands have made.

8And the Assyrian shall fall by the sword, not of man; and the sword, not of men, shall devour him; and he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall become subject to taskwork.

8The Assyrians will fall by a sword that is not wielded by a man; a sword not made by humans will destroy them. They will flee from the sword, and their young men will be forced into hard labor.

9And his rock shall pass away by reason of terror, and his princes shall be dismayed at the ensign, saith Jehovah, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.

9'Their stronghold will vanish because of terror, and their officers will panic when they see the battle flag,' says the LORD, whose fire is in Zion and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.