Isaiah 31 YLT
Summary: Isaiah renews the warning against relying on Egypt's horses and chariots instead of the Holy One of Israel, insisting the Egyptians are men, not God, and their horses flesh, not spirit, so that when the LORD stretches out His hand both helper and helped will fall together. He compares the LORD's defense of Jerusalem to a lion undeterred by shepherds, and to birds hovering protectively over their young, promising He will defend and deliver the city, "passing over" it as in the Passover imagery. The chapter calls Israel to turn back to the God they have deeply rebelled against, foreseeing a day when everyone will cast away idols of silver and gold as detestable. It closes announcing Assyria's fall by a sword not of man, fleeing in terror before a devouring fire and furnace in Jerusalem.
1Woe to those going down to Egypt for help, And on horses lean, And trust on chariots, because many, And on horsemen, because very strong, And have not looked on the Holy One of Israel, And Jehovah have not sought.
2And He also is wise, and bringeth in evil, And His words He hath not turned aside, And He hath risen against a house of evil doers, And against the help of workers of iniquity.
3And the Egyptians are men, and not God, And their horses are flesh, and not spirit, And Jehovah stretcheth out His hand, And stumbled hath the helper, And fallen hath the helped one, And together all of them are consumed.
4For thus said Jehovah unto me: `As growl doth the lion and the young lion over his prey, Called against whom is a multitude of shepherds, From their voice he is not affrighted, And from their noise he is not humbled; So come down doth Jehovah of Hosts To war on mount Zion, and on her height.
5As birds flying, so doth Jehovah of Hosts Cover over Jerusalem, covering and delivering, Passing over, and causing to escape.'
6Turn back to Him from whom sons of Israel Have deepened apostasy.
7For in that day despise doth each His idols of silver, and his idols of gold, That your hands made to you--a sin.
8And fallen hath Asshur by sword, not of the high, Yea, a sword--not of the low, doth consume him, And he hath fled for himself from the face of a sword, And his young men become tributary.
9And to his rock from fear he passeth on, And affrighted by the ensign have been his princes--an affirmation of Jehovah, Who hath a light in Zion, And who hath a furnace in Jerusalem!
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