Isaiah 19:1-13 ▼

1 THE prophecy concerning the fall of Egypt. Behold, the LORD is riding upon swift clouds, and comes into Egypt; and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of the Egyptians shall melt in the midst of it.

2 And I will stir up Egyptian against Egyptian; and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbor; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.

3 And the spirit of the Egyptian shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will blot out their counsel; and they shall inquire of idols and of the sorcerers and of those who have familiar spirits and of wizards.

4 And I will deliver the Egyptians into the hands of the cruel Medes; and a fierce king shall rule over them, says the LORD of hosts.

5 And they shall cut off the water from the sea, and the river shall be wasted and dried up.

6 And they shall divert the waters of the rivers, and shall diminish the great rivers; the reeds and rushes and papyrus shall wither.

7 The rushes by the river, and by the mouth of the river, and everything sown by the river shall wither, be driven away, and be no more.

8 The fishermen also shall lament, and all who cast hooks into the river shall mourn, and those who spread nets upon the water shall languish.

9 Moreover those who work in cotton, and those who comb cotton and weave with joy, shall be confounded.

10 And all those who make strong drink for the drinking of the people shall be humiliated.

11 Surely the princes of Zoan have become fools, the wise counsellors of King Pharaoh give foolish counsel; how can you say to Pharaoh, We are wise men, the sons of the ancient kings?

12 Where are your wise men? Let them tell you now, and let them know what the LORD of hosts has purposed against Egypt.

13 The princes of Zoan have become fools, the princes of Memphis have become haughty and have deceived Egypt, even the foundation of her families.