Judah’s worthless treaty with Egypt

30 Yahweh says, “Terrible things will happen to you, my people who rebel against me.

You make plans, but what you plan is not what I want.

You have made an alliance with the rulers of Egypt,

but you did not ask my Spirit if that was what you should do.

By doing that, you have increased the number of your sins.

2 You went to Egypt to ask their rulers for help,

without asking for my advice.

You have trusted in the army of the king of Egypt to protect you;

you have trusted in them

like people sit in the shade to protect themselves from the sun [MET].

3 But the result of your trusting in the king of Egypt is that you will be disappointed and disgraced;

because of trusting in him, you will be humiliated.

4 Officials/ambassadors from Judah have gone to Zoan and Hanes cities in Egypt to make treaties,

5 but all those who trust in the King of Egypt will be humiliated,

because that nation will not be able to help you;

the treaty that you have made requesting help from them will be useless;

instead, the result will be that you will be humiliated and disgraced [DOU].”

6 I received from Yahweh this message about the animals in the southern part of Judah:

That area is one where people experience a lot of troubles and difficulties,

an area where there are male and female lions

and various kinds of poisonous snakes.

Caravans go through that area

taking donkeys and camels loaded with valuable goods.

They are taking them to Egypt to seek for protection by the army of Egypt,

but it will be useless.

7 The promises made by the king of Egypt are worthless;

therefore I call Egypt ‘the sea monster/dragon that does nothing’.