1  “Ah, stubborn ^lchildren,” declares the Lord,

“who carry out a plan, but not mine,

and who make an alliance,¹ but not of my Spirit,

that they may add sin to sin;

2  who set out to ^mgo down to Egypt,

without asking for my direction,

to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh

and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt!

3  ⁿTherefore shall the protection of Pharaoh turn to your shame,

and the shelter in the shadow of Egypt to your humiliation.

4  For though his officials are at Zoan

and his envoys reach Hanes,

5  everyone comes to shame

through a people that cannot profit them,

that brings neither help nor profit,

but shame and disgrace.”

Through a land of trouble and anguish,

from where come the lioness and the lion,

the adder and the ^oflying fiery serpent,

they carry their riches on the backs of donkeys,

and their treasures on the humps of camels,

to a people that cannot profit them.

7  Egypt’s help is worthless and empty;

therefore I have called her

^p“Rahab who sits still.”

1  Woe¹ to those who ^kgo down to Egypt for help

and ^lrely on horses,

who trust in chariots because they are many

and in horsemen because they are very strong,

but do not look to the Holy One of Israel

or consult the Lord!

2  And yet he is wise and brings disaster;

he does not call back his words,

but will arise against the house of the evildoers

and against the helpers of those who work iniquity.

3  The Egyptians are man, and not God,

and their horses are flesh, and not spirit.

When the Lord stretches out his hand,

the helper will stumble, and he who is helped will fall,

and they will all perish together.