Only the LORD can Help

1“How terrible it will be for those who go down toa Egypt for help,

who rely on horses,

who trust in the chariot,

because there are so many,

and in charioteers,b

because they are so strong—

but do not look toc the Holy One of Israel

or seek the LORD!

2Yet he is also wise and can bring disaster;

he does not take back his words,

but will rise up against the house of those who practice evil

and against anyone who assists people who work iniquity.

3The Egyptians are men, not God,

and their horses are physical,d not spirit.

When the LORD stretches out his hand,

anyone who assists will stumble,

and the one who is helped will fall;

and they will all perish together.”

The LORD will Defend Jerusalem

4For this is what the LORD told me:

“Just as a lion or a young lion growls over his objects of prey,e —

even when a whole band of shepherds is called out against it,

it is not alarmed at their shouting

or disturbed by their clamor—

so the LORD of the Heavenly Armies will come down

to do battle on Mount Zion and on its hill.

5Like birds hovering overhead,

so the LORD of the Heavenly Armies will protect Jerusalem;

he will shield and deliver it;

andf he will pass overg and bring it to safety.h

6Turn back to him, yes to him whomi your peoplej have so greatly betrayed, you people of Israel. 7For at that time,k everyone will throw away theirl idols of silver and theirm idols of gold that your hands have sinfully made for yourselves.

8“Then Assyria will fall by a sword

that is not from human beings onlyn —

a sword not wielded by mortal beings will devour them.

They will flee from the sword,

and their young men will be put to forced labor.

9Their stronghold will vanish by reason of terror,

and their commanders will be filled with alarm

because of the battle standard,”

declares the LORD, whose fire is in Zion

and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.