THE BOOK OF ISAIAH

 

Isaiah Chapter 31

1 ¶ Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help; and depend on horses, and put their trust in many chariots; and in the strength of men and horses; but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek the LORD!

2 Yet he also is wise, and can bring calamity, and will not cancel his threats: but will rise up against those who join together in doing evil, and against those who assist others in doing wrong.

3 Now the Egyptians are human, not divine; and their horses are flesh, not spirit. When the LORD stretches out his hand, the helper will stumble, and he who is helped will fall, and they both will go down together.

4 For the LORD has said this to me, As a lion or a young lion growls over his prey, when a band of shepherds is called out against him, and is not frightened by their shouting, or driven off by their noise: so the LORD of hosts will come down to fight upon mount Zion, and upon its hills.

5 The LORD of hosts will defend Jerusalem, like hovering birds; and in defending it he will deliver it; and by sparing it he will preserve it.

6 ¶ O people of Israel, return to him against whom you have so deeply rebelled.

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

8 Then the Assyrian will fall by the sword, he will not be destroyed by the sword of a valiant man; or the swords of many men: but he will flee from the sword, and his young men will become slaves.

9 He will flee his stronghold in terror, even his officers will desert the standard in panic, says the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.