Alliance with Egypt Condemned
“Woe to the arebellious children,” declares Yahweh,
“Who bexecute counsel, but not Mine,
And cmake an alliance, but not of My Spirit,
In order to add sin to sin,
2 Who ago down to Egypt—
But did not bask Me—
cTo find strength in the strong defense of Pharaoh
And to take refuge in the shadow of Egypt!
3 Therefore the strong defense of Pharaoh will be ayour shame
And the refuge in the shadow of Egypt, your dishonor.
4 For atheir princes are at Zoan
And their messengers reach Hanes.
5 Everyone will be aashamed because of a people who cannot profit them,
Who are bnot for help or profit, but for shame and also for reproach.”
6 The oracle concerning the abeasts of the bNegev.
Through a land of cdistress and anguish,
From where come lioness and lion, viper and dflying fiery serpent,
They ecarry their wealth on the backs of young donkeys
And their treasures on fcamels’ humps,
To a people who cannot profit them;
7 Even Egypt, whose ahelp is vain and empty.
Therefore, I have called her
“bRahab who has ceased.”