OEB ISA Chapter 31

31 Woe to those who journey

to the land of Egypt for help,

who rely on the throngs of her horses and chariots,

and trust in the eminent strength of her horsemen,

but never turn their eyes

to the Holy One of Israel,

and ask not the Lord for counsel.

2 Yet he too is wise, and he brings disaster;

his threats he has not recalled.

He will rise to contend with the household of miscreants,

and with those whom the wicked would summon to help them.

3 The people of Egypt are men, not God;

and their horses are flesh, not spirit.

Let therefore the Lord but stretch forth his hand,

and the helper will stumble, the holpen will fall,

and both will perish together.

4 For thus has the Lord declared to me:

like as a lion growls,

or a young lion over his prey,

when against him the shepherds are summoned

to come in all their strength –

at the shout he is undismayed,

at their noise he is nothing daunted –

so the Lord of Hosts will come down

to fight against Mount Zion,

and against the hill thereof;

5 then like fluttering birds (they will flee).

Thus will the Lord of Hosts

throw his shield around Jerusalem;

he will shield her and deliver her,

he will spare her and bring her to safety.

The enemy’s downfall

6 O turn, you men of Israel, to him

whom deeply you have offended.

7 In that day each will disdain

the gold and silver idols

his guilty hands have made.

8 Assyria will fall by no mortal sword;

a sword, but not man’s, will devour him.

From the face of that sword he will flee,

and his youths will be put to task-work.

9 In his fear he will flee past his rocky retreat,

and his princes will run from the standard in panic.

Thus says the Lord whose fire is in Zion,

whose furnace is in Jerusalem.

Rulers and people in the coming days