Isaiah 31

Contemporary English Version

Don't Trust the Power of Egypt

31 You are in for trouble
    if you go to Egypt for help,
or if you depend on
an army of chariots
    or a powerful cavalry.
Instead you should depend on
and trust the holy Lord God
    of Israel.
²The Lord isn't stupid!
He does what he promises,
    and he can bring doom.
If you are cruel yourself,
or help those who are evil,
    you will be destroyed.

³The Egyptians are mere humans.
    They aren't God.
Their horses are made of flesh;
    they can't live forever.
When the Lord shows his power,
he will destroy the Egyptians
    and all who depend on them.
Together they will fall.

⁴The Lord All-Powerful
    said to me,
“I will roar and attack
    like a fearless lion
not frightened by the shouts
of shepherds trying to protect
    their sheep.
That's how I will come down
    and fight on Mount Zion.
⁵I, the Lord All-Powerful,
    will protect Jerusalem
like a mother bird circling
    over her nest.”

Come Back to the Lord

⁶People of Israel, come back!
You have completely turned
    from the Lord.
⁷The time is coming
    when you will throw away
your idols of silver and gold,
    made by your sinful hands.

⁸The Assyrians will be killed,
but not by the swords
    of humans.
Their young men will try
    to escape,
but they will be captured
    and forced into slavery.
⁹Their fortress^[a] will fall
    when terror strikes;
their army officers
will be frightened
    and run from the battle.
This is what the Lord has said,
the Lord whose fiery furnace
    is built on Mount Zion.