| NET Bible | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Here is a message about Egypt: Look, the LORD rides on a swift-moving cloud and approaches Egypt. The idols of Egypt tremble before him; the Egyptians lose their courage. | 1A pronouncement concerning Egypt: Look, the LORD rides on a swift cloud and is coming to Egypt. Egypt's idols will tremble before him, and Egypt will lose heart. |
| 2"I will provoke civil strife in Egypt, brothers will fight with each other, as will neighbors, cities, and kingdoms. | 2I will provoke Egyptians against Egyptians; each will fight against his brother and each against his friend, city against city, kingdom against kingdom. |
| 3The Egyptians will panic, and I will confuse their strategy. They will seek guidance from the idols and from the spirits of the dead, from the pits used to conjure up underworld spirits, and from the magicians. | 3Egypt's spirit will be disturbed within it, and I will frustrate its plans. Then they will inquire of idols, ghosts, and spiritists. |
| 4I will hand Egypt over to a harsh master; a powerful king will rule over them," says the sovereign master, the LORD who commands armies. | 4I will hand over Egypt to harsh masters, and a strong king will rule it. This is the declaration of the Lord GOD of Armies. |
| 5The water of the sea will be dried up, and the river will dry up and be empty. | 5The water of the sea will dry up, and the river will be parched and dry. |
| 6The canals will stink; the streams of Egypt will trickle and then dry up; the bulrushes and reeds will decay, | 6The channels will stink; they will dwindle, and Egypt's canals will be parched. Reed and rush will wilt. |
| 7along with the plants by the mouth of the river. All the cultivated land near the river will turn to dust and be blown away. | 7The reeds by the Nile, by the mouth of the river, and all the cultivated areas of the Nile will wither, blow away, and vanish. |
| 8The fishermen will mourn and lament, all those who cast a fishhook into the river, and those who spread out a net on the water's surface will grieve. | 8Then the fishermen will mourn. All those who cast hooks into the Nile will lament, and those who spread nets on the water will give up. |
| 9Those who make clothes from combed flax will be embarrassed; those who weave will turn pale. | 9Those who work with flax will be dismayed; those combing it and weaving linen will turn pale. |
| 10Those who make cloth will be demoralized; all the hired workers will be depressed. | 10Egypt's weavers will be dejected; all her wage earners will be demoralized. |
| 11The officials of Zoan are nothing but fools; Pharaoh's wise advisers give stupid advice. How dare you say to Pharaoh, "I am one of the sages, one well-versed in the writings of the ancient kings?" | 11The princes of Zoan are complete fools; Pharaoh's wisest advisers give stupid advice! How can you say to Pharaoh, "I am one of the wise, a student of eastern kings"? |
| 12But where, oh where, are your wise men? Let them tell you, let them find out what the LORD who commands armies has planned for Egypt. | 12Where then are your wise men? Let them tell you and reveal what the LORD of Armies has planned against Egypt. |
| 13The officials of Zoan are fools, the officials of Memphis are misled; the rulers of her tribes lead Egypt astray. | 13The princes of Zoan have been fools; the princes of Memphis are deceived. Her tribal chieftains have led Egypt astray. |
| 14The LORD has made them undiscerning; they lead Egypt astray in all she does, so that she is like a drunk sliding around in his own vomit. | 14The LORD has mixed within her a spirit of confusion. The leaders have made Egypt stagger in all she does, as a drunkard staggers in his vomit. |
| 15Egypt will not be able to do a thing, head or tail, shoots and stalk. | 15No head or tail, palm or reed, will be able to do anything for Egypt. |
| 16At that time the Egyptians will be like women. They will tremble and fear because the LORD who commands armies brandishes his fist against them. | 16On that day Egypt will be like women and will tremble with fear because of the threatening hand of the LORD of Armies when he raises it against them. |
| 17The land of Judah will humiliate Egypt. Everyone who hears about Judah will be afraid because of what the LORD who commands armies is planning to do to them. | 17The land of Judah will terrify Egypt; whenever Judah is mentioned, Egypt will tremble because of what the LORD of Armies has planned against it. |
| 18At that time five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the LORD who commands armies. One will be called the City of the Sun. | 18On that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear loyalty to the LORD of Armies. One of the cities will be called the City of the Sun. |
| 19At that time there will be an altar for the LORD in the middle of the land of Egypt, as well as a sacred pillar dedicated to the LORD at its border. | 19On that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the center of the land of Egypt and a pillar to the LORD near her border. |
| 20It will become a visual reminder in the land of Egypt of the LORD who commands armies. When they cry out to the LORD because of oppressors, he will send them a deliverer and defender who will rescue them. | 20It will be a sign and witness to the LORD of Armies in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, he will send them a savior and leader, and he will rescue them. |
| 21The LORD will reveal himself to the Egyptians, and they will acknowledge the LORD's authority at that time. They will present sacrifices and offerings; they will make vows to the LORD and fulfill them. | 21The LORD will make himself known to Egypt, and Egypt will know the LORD on that day. They will offer sacrifices and offerings; they will make vows to the LORD and fulfill them. |
| 22The LORD will strike Egypt, striking and then healing them. They will turn to the LORD and he will listen to their prayers and heal them. | 22The LORD will strike Egypt, striking and healing. Then they will turn to the LORD and he will be receptive to their prayers and heal them. |
| 23At that time there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will visit Egypt, and the Egyptians will visit Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together. | 23On that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. Assyria will go to Egypt, Egypt to Assyria, and Egypt will worship with Assyria. |
| 24At that time Israel will be the third member of the group, along with Egypt and Assyria, and will be a recipient of blessing in the earth. | 24On that day Israel will form a triple alliance with Egypt and Assyria--a blessing within the land. |
| 25The LORD who commands armies will pronounce a blessing over the earth, saying, "Blessed be my people, Egypt, and the work of my hands, Assyria, and my special possession, Israel!" | 25The LORD of Armies will bless them, saying, "Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance are blessed." |
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