^{1 Ref} Ho! uncontrolled children, says the Lord, who give effect to a purpose which is not mine, and who make an agreement, but not by my spirit, increasing their sin:

^{2 Ref} Who make a move to go down into Egypt, without authority from me; who are looking to the strength of Pharaoh for help, and whose hope is in the shade of Egypt.

^{3 Ref} And the strength of Pharaoh will be your shame, and your hope in the shade of Egypt will come to nothing.

^{4 Ref} For his chiefs are at Zoan, and his representatives have come to Hanes.

^{5 Ref} For they have all come with offerings to a people of no use to them, in whom is no help or profit, but only shame and a bad name.

^{6 Ref} The word about the Beasts of the South. Through the land of trouble and grief, the land of the she-lion and the voice of the lion, of the snake and the burning winged snake, they take their wealth on the backs of young asses, and their stores on camels, to a people in whom is no profit.

^{7 Ref} For there is no use or purpose in the help of Egypt: so I have said about her, She is Rahab, who has come to an end.

^{8 Ref} Now go, put it in writing before them on a board, and make a record of it in a book, so that it may be for the future, a witness for all time to come.

^{9 Ref} For they are an uncontrolled people, false-hearted, who will not give ear to the teaching of the Lord:

^{10 Ref} Who say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Do not give us word of what is true, but say false things to give us pleasure:

^{11 Ref} Get out of the good way, turning from the right road; do not keep the Holy One of Israel before our minds.

^{12 Ref} For this cause the Holy One of Israel says, Because you will not give ear to this word, and are looking for help in ways of deceit and evil, and are putting your hope in them:

^{13 Ref} This sin will be to you like a crack in a high wall, causing its fall suddenly and in a minute.

^{14 Ref} And he will let it be broken as a potter's vessel is broken: it will be smashed to bits without mercy; so that there will not be a bit in which one may take fire from the fireplace, or water from the spring.

^{15 Ref} For the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, said, In quiet and rest is your salvation: peace and hope are your strength: but you would not have it so.

^{16 Ref} Saying, No, for we will go in flight on horses; so you will certainly go in flight: and, We will go on the backs of quick-running beasts; so those who go after you will be quick-footed.

^{17 Ref} A thousand will go in fear before one; even before five you will go in flight: till you are like a pillar by itself on the top of a mountain, and like a flag on a hill.

^{18 Ref} For this cause the Lord will be waiting, so that he may be kind to you; and he will be lifted up, so that he may have mercy on you; for the Lord is a God of righteousness: there is a blessing on all whose hope is in him.

^{19 Ref} O people, living in Zion, at Jerusalem, your weeping will be ended; he will certainly have mercy on you at the sound of your cry; when it comes to his ear, he will give you an answer.

^{20 Ref} And though the Lord will give you the bread of trouble and the water of grief, you will no longer put your teacher on one side, but you will see your teacher:

^{21 Ref} And at your back, when you are turning to the right hand or to the left, a voice will be sounding in your ears, saying, This is the way in which you are to go.

^{22 Ref} And you will make unclean what is covering your pictured images of silver, and the plating of your images of gold: you will send them away as an unclean thing, saying, Be gone!

^{23 Ref} And he will give rain for your seed, so that you may put it in the earth; and you will have bread from the produce of the earth, good and more than enough for your needs: in that day the cattle will get their food in wide grass-lands.

^{24 Ref} And the oxen and the young asses which are used for ploughing, will have salted grain which has been made free from the waste with fork and basket.

^{25 Ref} And there will be rivers and streams of water on every tall mountain and on every high hill, in the day when great numbers are put to the sword, when the towers come down.

^{26 Ref} And the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times greater, as the light of seven days, in the day when the Lord puts oil on the wounds of his people, and makes them well from the blows they have undergone.

^{27 Ref} See, the name of the Lord is coming from far, burning with his wrath, with thick smoke going up: his lips are full of passion, and his tongue is like a burning fire:

^{28 Ref} And his breath is as an overflowing stream, coming up even to the neck, shaking the nations for their destruction, like the shaking of grain in a basket: and he will put a cord in the mouths of the people, turning them out of their way.

^{29 Ref} You will have a song, as in the night when a holy feast is kept; and you will be glad in heart, as when they go with music of the pipe to the mountain of the Lord, the Rock of Israel.

^{30 Ref} And the Lord will send out the sound of his great voice, and they will see his arm stretched out, with the heat of his wrath, and the flame of a burning fire; with a cloud-burst, and storm, and a rain of ice.

^{31 Ref} For through the voice of the Lord the Assyrian will be broken, and the Lord's rod will be lifted up against him.

^{32 Ref} And every blow of the rod of his punishment, which the Lord will send on him, will be with the sound of music: and with the waving of his sword the Lord will make war against him.

^{33 Ref} For a place of fire has long been ready; yes, it has been made ready for the king; he has made it deep and wide: it is massed with fire and much wood; the breath of the Lord, like a stream of fire, puts a light to it.

^{1 Ref} Wo `to' apostate sons, The affirmation of Jehovah! To do counsel, and not from Me, And to spread out a covering, and not of My spirit, So as to add sin to sin.

^{2 Ref} Who are walking to go down to Egypt, And My mouth have not asked, To be strong in the strength of Pharaoh, And to trust in the shadow of Egypt.

^{3 Ref} And the strength of Pharaoh Hath been to you for shame, And the trust in the shadow of Egypt confusion,

^{4 Ref} For in Zoan were his princes, And his messengers reach Hanes.

^{5 Ref} All he made ashamed of a people that profit not, Neither for help, not for profit, But for shame, and also for reproach!

^{6 Ref} The burden of the beasts of the south. Into a land of adversity and distress, Of young lion and of old lion, Whence `are' viper and flying saraph, They carry on the shoulder of asses their wealth, And on the hump of camels their treasures, Unto a people not profitable.

^{7 Ref} Yea, Egyptians `are' vanity, and in vain do help, Therefore I have cried concerning this: `Their strength `is' to sit still.'

^{8 Ref} No, go in, write it on a tablet with them, And on a book engrave it, And it is for a latter day, for a witness unto the age,

^{9 Ref} That a rebellious people `is' this, sons -- liars, Sons not willing to hear the law of Jehovah.

^{10 Ref} Who have said to seers, `Ye do not see,' And to prophets, `Ye do not prophesy to us Straightforward things, Speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits,

^{11 Ref} Turn aside from the way, decline from the path, Cause to cease from before us the Holy One of Israel.'

^{12 Ref} Therefore, thus said the Holy One of Israel, Because of your kicking against this word, And ye trust in oppression, And perverseness, and rely on it,

^{13 Ref} Therefore is this iniquity to you as a breach falling, Swelled out in a wall set on high, Whose destruction suddenly, at an instant cometh.

^{14 Ref} And He hath broken it As the breaking of the potters' bottle, Beaten down -- He doth not spare, Nor is there found, in its beating down, A potsherd to take fire from the burning, And to draw out waters from a ditch.

^{15 Ref} For thus said the Lord Jehovah, The Holy One of Israel: `In returning and rest ye are saved, In keeping quiet and in confidence is your might, And ye have not been willing.

^{16 Ref} And ye say, No, for on a horse we flee? Therefore ye flee, And on the swift we ride! Therefore swift are your pursuers.

^{17 Ref} One thousand because of the rebuke of one, Because of the rebuke of five ye flee, Till ye have been surely left as a pole On the top of the mountain, And as an ensign on the height.

^{18 Ref} And therefore doth wait Jehovah to favour you, And therefore He is exalted to pity you, For a God of judgment `is' Jehovah, O the blessedness of all waiting for Him.

^{19 Ref} For the people in Zion dwell in Jerusalem, Weep thou not, weeping, Pitying, He pitieth thee at the voice of thy cry, When He heareth He answereth thee.

^{20 Ref} And the Lord hath given to you bread of adversity, And water of oppression. And thy directors remove no more, And thine eyes have seen thy directors,

^{21 Ref} And thine ear heareth a word behind thee, Saying, `This `is' the way, go ye in it,' When ye turn to the right, And when ye turn to the left.

^{22 Ref} And ye have defiled the covering of Thy graven images of silver, And the ephod of thy molten image of gold, Thou scatterest them as a sickening thing, `Go out,' thou sayest to it.

^{23 Ref} And He hath given rain `for' thy seed, With which thou dost sow the ground, And bread, the increase of the ground, And it hath been fat and plenteous, Enjoy do thy cattle in that day an enlarged pasture.

^{24 Ref} And the oxen and the young asses serving the ground, Fermented provender do eat, That one is winnowing with shovel and fan.

^{25 Ref} And there hath been on every high mount, And on every exalted hill, Rivulets -- streams of waters, In a day of much slaughter, in the falling of towers.

^{26 Ref} And the light of the moon hath been as the light of the sun, And the light of the sun is sevenfold, As the light of seven days, In the day of Jehovah's binding up the breach of His people, When the stroke of its wound He healeth.

^{27 Ref} Lo, the name of Jehovah is coming from far, Burning is His anger, and great the flame, His lips have been full of indignation, And His tongue `is' as a devouring fire.

^{28 Ref} And His breath `is' as an overflowing stream, Unto the neck it divideth, To sift nations with a sieve of vanity, And a bridle causing to err, `Is' on the jaws of the peoples.

^{29 Ref} Singing is to you as in a night sanctified for a festival, And joy of heart as he who is going with a pipe, To go in to the mountain of Jehovah, Unto the rock of Israel.

^{30 Ref} And caused to be heard hath Jehovah The honour of His voice, And the coming down of His arm He doth shew with the raging of anger, And the flame of a consuming fire, Scattering, and inundation, and hailstone.

^{31 Ref} For from the voice of Jehovah broken down `is' Asshur, With a rod He smiteth.

^{32 Ref} And every passage of the settled staff, That Jehovah causeth to rest on him, Hath been with tabrets, and with harps, And in battles of shaking he hath fought with it.

^{33 Ref} For, arranged from former time is Tophet, Even it for the king is prepared, He hath made deep, He hath made large, Its pile `is' fire and much wood, The breath of Jehovah, As a stream of brim stone, is burning in it!

^{1 Ref} Woe to the rebellious children, saith Jehovah, that take counsel, but not of me; and that make a league, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin,

^{2 Ref} that set out to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to take refuge in the shadow of Egypt!

^{3 Ref} Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the refuge in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.

^{4 Ref} For their princes are at Zoan, and their ambassadors are come to Hanes.

^{5 Ref} They shall all be ashamed because of a people that cannot profit them, that are not a help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.

^{6 Ref} The burden of the beasts of the South. Through the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the lioness and the lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the humps of camels, to a people that shall not profit `them'.

^{7 Ref} For Egypt helpeth in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I called her Rahab that sitteth still.

^{8 Ref} Now go, write it before them on a tablet, and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever.

^{9 Ref} For it is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of Jehovah;

^{10 Ref} that say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits,

^{11 Ref} get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.

^{12 Ref} Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and rely thereon;

^{13 Ref} therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly in an instant.

^{14 Ref} And he shall break it as a potter's vessel is broken, breaking it in pieces without sparing; so that there shall not be found among the pieces thereof a sherd wherewith to take fire from the hearth, or to dip up water out of the cistern.

^{15 Ref} For thus said the Lord Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength. And ye would not:

^{16 Ref} but ye said, No, for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.

^{17 Ref} One thousand `shall flee' at the threat of one; at the threat of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on a hill.

^{18 Ref} And therefore will Jehovah wait, that he may be gracious unto you; and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for Jehovah is a God of justice; blessed are all they that wait for him.

^{19 Ref} For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem; thou shalt weep no more; he will surely be gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear, he will answer thee.

^{20 Ref} And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be hidden anymore, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers;

^{21 Ref} and thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it; when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

^{22 Ref} And ye shall defile the overlaying of thy graven images of silver, and the plating of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as an unclean thing; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence.

^{23 Ref} And he will give the rain for thy seed, wherewith thou shalt sow the ground; and bread of the increase of the ground, and it shall be fat and plenteous. In that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures;

^{24 Ref} the oxen likewise and the young asses that till the ground shall eat savory provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fork.

^{25 Ref} And there shall be upon every lofty mountain, and upon every high hill, brooks `and' streams of waters, in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.

^{26 Ref} Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that Jehovah bindeth up the hurt of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.

^{27 Ref} Behold, the name of Jehovah cometh from far, burning with his anger, and in thick rising smoke: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue is as a devouring fire;

^{28 Ref} and his breath is as an overflowing stream, that reacheth even unto the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of destruction: and a bridle that causeth to err `shall be' in the jaws of the peoples.

^{29 Ref} Ye shall have a song as in the night when a holy feast is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come unto the mountain of Jehovah, to the Rock of Israel.

^{30 Ref} And Jehovah will cause his glorious voice to be heard, and will show the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of `his' anger, and the flame of a devouring fire, with a blast, and tempest, and hailstones.

^{31 Ref} For through the voice of Jehovah shall the Assyrian be dismayed; with his rod will he smite `him'.

^{32 Ref} And every stroke of the appointed staff, which Jehovah shall lay upon him, shall be with `the sound of' tabrets and harps; and in battles with the brandishing `of his arm' will he fight with them.

^{33 Ref} For a Topheth is prepared of old; yea, for the king it is made ready; he hath made it deep and large; the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of Jehovah, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.