31:1 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD.
31:2 Yet he too is wise and can bring disaster; he does not take back his words. He will rise up against the house of the wicked, against those who help evildoers.
31:3 But the Egyptians are men and not God; their horses are flesh and not spirit. When the LORD stretches out his hand, he who helps will stumble, he who is helped will fall; both will perish together.
31:4 This is what the LORD says to me: “As a lion growls, a great lion over his prey–and though a whole band of shepherds is called together against him, he is not frightened by their shouts or disturbed by their clamor–so the LORD Almighty will come down to do battle on Mount Zion and on its heights.
31:5 Like birds hovering overhead, the LORD Almighty will shield Jerusalem; he will shield it and deliver it, he will ‘pass over’ it and will rescue it.”
31:6 Return to him you have so greatly revolted against, O Israelites.
31:7 For in that day every one of you will reject the idols of silver and gold your sinful hands have made.
31:8 “Assyria will fall by a sword that is not of man; a sword, not of mortals, will devour them. They will flee before the sword and their young men will be put to forced labor.
31:9 Their stronghold will fall because of terror; at sight of the battle standard their commanders will panic,” declares the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, whose furnace is in Jerusalem.
31:1 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help; / They rely on horses / And trust in chariots because they are many / And in horsemen because they are very strong; / But they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, / Nor seek Jehovah!
31:2 But He also is wise and will bring ill upon them; / And He does not turn back His words, / But will rise up against the house of evildoers / And against the help of the workers of iniquity.
31:3 The Egyptians are mere men and not God, / And their horses are mere flesh and not spirit; / Thus Jehovah will stretch out His hand, / And he who helps will stumble and he who is helped will fall, / And all of them will be consumed together.
31:4 For Jehovah has spoken thus to me, / As the lion or the lion cub / Roars over its prey / And because of it a crowd of shepherds / Is called out, / But it is not frightened by their voice, / Nor overcome by their noise; / So Jehovah of hosts will descend / To wage war on Mount Zion and on its hill.
31:5 Like flying birds / So Jehovah of hosts will protect Jerusalem; / He will protect and deliver it; / He will pass over and rescue it.
31:6 Return to Him from whom men have deeply revolted, O children of Israel.
31:7 For in that day each man will cast away his idols of silver and his idols of gold, which your hands have made for you as a sin.
31:8 And the Assyrian will fall by the sword not of a man, / And the sword not of man will devour him. / Thus he will flee from a sword, / And his young men will be forced into labor.
31:9 And his rock will pass away in terror, / And his princes will be dismayed by the standard, / Declares Jehovah, whose fire is in Zion / And whose furnace is in Jerusalem.