| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1"How terrible it will be for those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the chariot, because there are so many, and in charioteers, because they are so strong— but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or seek the LORD! | 1Those who go down to Egypt for help are as good as dead, those who rely on war horses, and trust in Egypt's many chariots and in their many, many horsemen. But they do not rely on the Holy One of Israel and do not seek help from 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. | 2Yet he too is wise and he will bring disaster; he does not retract his decree. He will attack the wicked nation, and the nation that helps those who commit sin. |
| 3The Egyptians are men, not God, and their horses are physical, 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." | 3The Egyptians are mere humans, not God; their horses are made of flesh, not spirit. The LORD will strike with his hand; the one who helps will stumble and the one being helped will fall. Together they will perish. |
| 4For this is what the LORD told me: "Just as a lion or a young lion growls over his objects of prey, — 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. | 4Indeed, this is what the LORD says to me: "The LORD will be like a growling lion, like a young lion growling over its prey. Though a whole group of shepherds gathers against it, it is not afraid of their shouts or intimidated by their yelling. In this same way the LORD who commands armies will descend 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; and he will pass over and bring it to safety. | 5Just as birds hover over a nest, so the LORD who commands armies will protect Jerusalem. He will protect and deliver it; as he passes over he will rescue it. |
| 6Turn back to him, yes to him whom your people have so greatly betrayed, you people of Israel. | 6You Israelites! Return to the one against whom you have so blatantly rebelled! |
| 7For at that time, everyone will throw away their idols of silver and their idols of gold that your hands have sinfully made for yourselves. | 7For at that time everyone will get rid of the silver and gold idols your hands sinfully made. |
| 8"Then Assyria will fall by a sword that is not from human beings only — 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. | 8Assyria will fall by a sword, but not one human-made; a sword not made by humankind will destroy them. They will run away from this sword and their young men will be forced to do hard 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. | 9They will surrender their stronghold because of fear; their officers will be afraid of the LORD's battle flag." This is what the LORD says--the one whose fire is in Zion, whose firepot is in Jerusalem. |
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