Isaiah 20

A Sign regarding Egypt and Cush

1 In the year the commander-in-chief came*Literally "of the coming of the commander in chief" to Ashdod, when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him, and he fought against Ashdod and he took it, 2 at that time, Yahweh had spoken by the hand of Isaiah son of Amoz, saying,

"Go and loosen the sackcloth from your loins,

and take off your sandals*Hebrew "sandal" from your feet,"

and he had done so, walking naked and barefoot.

3 Then*Or "And" Yahweh said, "Just as my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years as a sign and a portent against Egypt and Cush, 4 so shall the king of Assyria lead the captives*Hebrew "captive" of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, young and old, naked and barefoot, with bared buttocks,*Literally "and bare of buttocks" the shame of Egypt.

5 And they shall be dismayed,

and they shall be ashamed

because of Cush, their hope,

and because of Egypt, their pride.

6 And the inhabitant*Hebrew "inhabitant" of the coastland will say this on that day:

‘Look! This is our hope to whom we fled for help, to be delivered from*Literally "from the face of" the king of Assyria, and how shall we escape?’ "