19
1 The
burden of Egypt.
“Behold, the LORD
rides on a
swift cloud, and
comes to Egypt.
The idols of Egypt
will tremble at
his presence; and
the heart of
Egypt will melt
within it.
2 I
will stir up the
Egyptians against
the Egyptians, and
they will
fight everyone against
his brother,
and everyone against
his neighbor; city
against city, and
kingdom against
kingdom.
3 The
spirit of the
Egyptians will
fail within them.
I will destroy
their counsel.
They will seek
the idols, the charmers, those
who have familiar
spirits, and the
wizards.
4 I
will give over
the Egyptians into
the hand of
a cruel lord.
A fierce king
will rule over
them,” says the
Lord, GOD
of Armies.
5 The
waters will fail
from the sea,
and the river
will be wasted
and become dry.
6 The
rivers will
become foul. The
streams of Egypt
will be diminished and
dried up. The
reeds and flags
will wither away.
7 The meadows
by the Nile,
by the brink of
the Nile, and
all the sown
fields of the
Nile, will become
dry, be driven
away, and be
no more.
8 The fishermen
will lament, and
all those who fish
in the Nile
will mourn, and
those who spread
nets on the
waters will languish.
9 Moreover those who
work in combed
flax, and those who weave white
cloth, will be confounded.
10 The
pillars will be
broken in pieces.
All those who
work for hire will
be grieved in soul.
11 The
princes of Zoan
are utterly foolish.
The counsel of
the wisest counselors
of Pharaoh has
become stupid. How do
you say to Pharaoh,
“I am the son
of the wise,
the son of
ancient kings”?
12 Where
then are your
wise men? Let
them tell you
now; and let
them know what
the LORD of
Armies has
purposed concerning
Egypt.
13 The
princes of Zoan
have become fools.
The princes of
Memphis are
deceived. They have caused
Egypt to go
astray, those who
are the
cornerstone of her
tribes.
14 The
LORD has mixed
a spirit
of perverseness in
the middle of
her; and they
have caused Egypt
to go astray
in all of
its works, like
a drunken man
staggers in his
vomit.
15 Neither
shall there be
any work for
Egypt, which head
or tail, palm
branch or rush,
may do.
16 In
that day the
Egyptians will be
like women. They
will tremble and
fear because of
the shaking of
the LORD of
Armies’s hand,
which he shakes
over them.
17 The
land of Judah
will become a
terror to Egypt.
Everyone to whom
mention is made
of it will
be afraid, because
of the plans
of the LORD
of Armies, which
he determines against
it.
18 In
that day, there
will be five
cities in the land
of Egypt that
speak the language
of Canaan, and
swear to the
LORD of Armies.
One will be called
“The city of
destruction.”
19 In
that day, there
will be an
altar to the
LORD in the
middle of the
land of Egypt,
and a pillar
to the LORD
at its border.
20 It
will be for
a sign and for
a witness to
the LORD of
Armies in the
land of Egypt;
for they will
cry to the
LORD because of
oppressors, and he
will send them
a savior and
a defender, and he
will deliver them.
21 The
LORD will be
known to Egypt,
and the Egyptians
will know the
LORD in that
day. Yes, they
will worship with
sacrifice and
offering, and will
vow a vow
to the LORD,
and will perform
it.
22 The
LORD will strike
Egypt, striking
and healing. They
will return to
the LORD, and
he will be
entreated by them,
and will heal
them.
23 In
that day there
will be a
highway out of
Egypt to Assyria,
and the Assyrian
shall come into
Egypt, and the
Egyptian into Assyria;
and the Egyptians
will worship with
the Assyrians.
24 In
that day, Israel
will be the
third with Egypt
and with Assyria,
a blessing within
the earth;
25 because
the LORD of
Armies has blessed
them, saying, “Blessed
be Egypt my
people, Assyria the
work of my
hands, and Israel
my inheritance.”