1How terrible for those who go down to Egypt for help. They lean on horses, and trust in chariots because there are so many, and in horsemen because they are very strong. But they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, and they do not seek the LORD.
2Yet he too is wise, and he will bring disaster, and he will not take back his words. He will rise up against the house of the evildoers, and against the helpers of those who do wrong.
3Now the Egyptians are men, and not God. Their horses are flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD stretches out his hand, the one who helps will fall, and the one who is helped will fall down, and they will all fail together.
4For this is what the LORD has said to me: "As the lion and the young lion growl over their prey, and a crowd of shepherds is called out against them, the lion is not afraid of their shouting, and does not cringe at their noise. So the LORD of hosts will come down to fight for Mount Zion, and for its hill."
5Like birds flying over, so the LORD of hosts will defend Jerusalem. He will defend it and rescue it. He will pass over it and keep it safe.
6Turn back to him, the one the children of Israel have deeply rebelled against.
7For in that day every man will throw away his idols of silver and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made for yourselves, to your sin.
8Then the Assyrian will fall by a sword, but not the sword of a mighty man. A sword, but not the sword of a common man, will devour him. He will run away from the sword, and his young men will be crushed.
9He will cross over to his stronghold in fear, and his princes will be afraid of the banner, says the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.