Isaías 31

The Folly of Not Trusting God

1 Woe to those *Is. 30:1, 2who go down to Egypt for help,

And*Deut. 17:16; Ps. 20:7; Is. 2:7; 30:16rely on horses,

Who trust in chariots because theyare many,

And in horsemen because they are very strong,

But who do not look to the Holy One of Israel,

*Is. 9:13; Dan. 9:13; Amos 5:4–8Nor seek the Lord!

2 Yet He also is wise and will bring disaster,

And *Num. 23:19; Jer. 44:29will not call back His words,

But will arise against the house of evildoers,

And against the help of those who work iniquity.

3 Now the Egyptians are men, and not God;

And their horses are flesh, and not spirit.

When the Lord stretches out His hand,

Both he who helps will fall,

And he who is helped will fall down;

They all will perish *Is. 20:6together.

God Will Deliver Jerusalem

4 For thus the Lord has spoken to me:

*Num. 24:9; Hos. 11:10; Amos 3:8"As a lion roars,

And a young lion over his prey

(When a multitude of shepherds is summoned against him,

He will not be afraid of their voice

Nor be disturbed by their noise),

So the Lord of hosts will come down

To fight for Mount Zion and for its hill.

5 *Deut. 32:11; Ps. 91:4Like birds flying about,

So will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem.

Defending, He will also deliver it;

Passing over, He will preserve it."

6 Return toHim against whom the children of Israel have *Hos. 9:9deeply revolted. 7 For in that day every man shall *Is. 2:20; 30:22throw away his idols of silver and his idols of gold—*1 Kin. 12:30sin, which your own hands have made for yourselves.

8 "Then Assyria shall *2 Kin. 19:35, 36fall by a sword not of man,

And a sword not of mankind shall *Is. 37:36devour him.

But he shall flee from the sword,

And his young men shall become forced labor.

9 *Is. 37:37He shall cross over to his stronghold for fear,

And his princes shall be afraid of the banner,"

Says the Lord,

Whose fire is in Zion

And whose furnace is in Jerusalem.