Isaiah 31

1 “How terrible it will be for those who go down to ^{a31:1 So 1QIsaa LXX; the Heb. lacks to} Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the chariot, because there are so many, and in charioteers, ^{b31:1 Or horsemen} because they are so strong— but do not look to ^{c31:1 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read upon} the Holy One of Israel or seek the LORD!ISV — Isaiah 31:1

2 Yet he is also wise and can bring disaster; he does not take back his words, but will rise up against the house of those who practice evil and against anyone who assists people who work iniquity.ISV — Isaiah 31:2

3 The Egyptians are men, not God, and their horses are physical, ^{d31:3 Or flesh} not spirit. When the LORD stretches out his hand, anyone who assists will stumble, and the one who is helped will fall; and they will all perish together.”ISV — Isaiah 31:3

4 For this is what the LORD told me: “Just as a lion or a young lion growls over his objects of prey, ^{e31:4 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read his prey (sing.)} — even when a whole band of shepherds is called out against it, it is not alarmed at their shouting or disturbed by their clamor— so the LORD of the Heavenly Armies will come down to do battle on Mount Zion and on its hill.ISV — Isaiah 31:4

5 Like birds hovering overhead, so the LORD of the Heavenly Armies will protect Jerusalem; he will shield and deliver it; and ^{f31:5 So 1QIsaa; cf. LXX; the Heb. lacks and} he will pass over ^{g31:5 i.e. as the Angel of Death passed over the Israelis; cf. Exod 12:13, 23, 27} and bring it to safety. ^{h31:5 So 1QIsaa; MT reads rescue it}ISV — Isaiah 31:5

6 Turn back to him, yes to him whom ^{i31:6 So 1QIsaa; MT reads back to him whom} your people ^{j31:6 Lit. whom they} have so greatly betrayed, you people of Israel.ISV — Isaiah 31:6

7 For at that time, ^{k31:7 Lit. on that day} everyone will throw away their ^{l31:7 Lit. his} idols of silver and their ^{m31:7 Lit. his} idols of gold that your hands have sinfully made for yourselves.ISV — Isaiah 31:7

8 “Then Assyria will fall by a sword that is not from human beings only ^{n31:8 Lit. not of man} — a sword not wielded by mortal beings will devour them. They will flee from the sword, and their young men will be put to forced labor.ISV — Isaiah 31:8

9 Their stronghold will vanish by reason of terror, and their commanders will be filled with alarm because of the battle standard,” declares the LORD, whose fire is in Zion and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.ISV — Isaiah 31:9