Isaiah 19:1-13 ▼

1 The burden of Egypt. Behold, YHWH is riding on a swift thick cloud, || And He has entered Egypt, || And the idols of Egypt have been moved at His presence, || And the heart of Egypt melts in its midst.

2 And I armed Egyptians against Egyptians, || And they fought, each against his brother, || And each against his neighbor, || City against city, kingdom against kingdom.

3 And the spirit of Egypt has been emptied out in its midst. And I swallow up its counsel, || And they have sought to the idols, || And to the charmers, || And to those having familiar spirits, || And to the wizards.

4 And I have delivered the Egyptians || Into the hand of a hard lord, || And a strong king rules over them, || A declaration of the Lord, YHWH of Hosts.

5 And waters have failed from the sea, || And a river is desolated and dried up.

6 And they have turned away the flowings, || Brooks of the bulwark have been weak and dried up, || Reed and flag have withered.

7 Exposed things by the brook, by the edge of the brook, || And every sown thing of the brook, has withered, || It has been driven away, and is not.

8 And the fishers have lamented, || And all casting a hook into the brook have mourned, || And those spreading dragnets on the face of the waters have languished.

9 And makers of fine flax have been ashamed, || And weavers of networks.

10 And its foundations have been struck, || All making wages [are] afflicted in soul.

11 Only, the princes of Zoan [are] fools, || The counsel of the wise ones of the counselors of Pharaoh has become brutish. How do you say to Pharaoh, “I am a son of the wise, a son of kings of antiquity?”

12 Where [are] they now, your wise ones? Indeed, let them now tell [it] to you, || And they know what YHWH of Hosts has counseled against Egypt!

13 Princes of Zoan have been foolish, || Princes of Noph have been lifted up, || And they have caused Egypt to err, || The chief of her tribes.