The Burden Concerning Egypt
1The burdenof Egypt.Behold, the LORDridethupon a swiftcloud,and shall comeinto Egypt:and the idolsof Egyptshall be movedat his presence,and the heartof Egyptshall meltin the midstof it.
2And I will setthe Egyptiansagainst the Egyptians:and they shall fightevery oneagainst his brother,and every oneagainst his neighbour;cityagainst city,[and] kingdomagainst kingdom.
3And the spiritof Egyptshall failin the midstthereof; and I will destroythe counselthereof: and they shall seekto the idols,and to the charmers,and to them that have familiar spirits,and to the wizards.
4Andthe Egyptianswill I give overinto the handof a cruellord;and a fiercekingshall ruleover them, saiththe Lord,the LORDof hosts.
5And the watersshall failfrom the sea,and the rivershall be wastedand dried up.
6And they shall turnthe riversfar away;[and] the brooksof defenceshall be emptiedand dried up:the reedsand flagsshall wither.
7The paper reedsby the brooks,by the mouthof the brooks,and every thing sownby the brooks,shall wither,be driven away,and be no [more].
8The fishersalso shall mourn,and all they that castangleinto the brooksshall lament,and they that spreadnetsuponthe watersshall languish.
9Moreover they that workin fineflax,and they that weavenetworks,shall be confounded.
10And they shall be brokenin the purposesthereof, all that makesluices[and] pondsfor fish.
11Surely the princesof Zoan[are] fools,the counselof the wisecounsellorsof Pharaohis become brutish:how sayye unto Pharaoh,I [am] the sonof the wise,the sonof ancientkings?
12Where[are] they? where[are] thy wise[men]? and let them tellthee now, and let them knowwhat the LORDof hostshath purposedupon Egypt.
13The princesof Zoanare become fools,the princesof Nophare deceived;they have also seducedEgypt,[even they that are] the stayof the tribesthereof.
14The LORDhath mingleda perversespiritin the midstthereof: and they have caused Egyptto errin every workthereof, as a drunken[man] staggerethin his vomit.
15Neither shall there be [any] workfor Egypt,which the heador tail,branchor rush,may do.
Blessing to Egypt, Assyria, Israel
16In that dayshall Egyptbe like unto women:and it shall be afraidand fearbecauseof the shakingof the handof the LORDof hosts,which he shakethover it.17And the landof Judahshall be a terrorunto Egypt,every one that maketh mentionthereof shall be afraidin himself, becauseof the counselof the LORDof hosts,which he hath determinedagainst it.
18In that dayshall fivecitiesin the landof Egyptspeakthe languageof Canaan,and swearto the LORDof hosts;oneshall be called,The cityof destruction.
19In that dayshall there be an altarto the LORDin the midstof the landof Egypt,and a pillaratthe borderthereof to the LORD.20And it shall be for a signand for a witnessunto the LORDof hostsin the landof Egypt:for they shall cryunto the LORDbecauseof the oppressors,and he shall sendthem a saviour,and a great one,and he shall deliverthem.21And the LORDshall be knownto Egypt,and the Egyptiansshall knowthe LORDin that day,and shall dosacrificeand oblation;yea, they shall vowa vowunto the LORD,and perform[it].22And the LORDshall smiteEgypt:he shall smiteand heal[it]: and they shall return[even] to the LORD,and he shall be intreatedof them, and shall healthem.
23In that dayshall there be a highwayout of Egyptto Assyria,and the Assyrianshall comeinto Egypt,and the Egyptianinto Assyria,and the Egyptiansshall servewith the Assyrians.
24In that dayshall Israelbe the thirdwith Egyptand with Assyria,[even] a blessingin the midstof the land:25Whom the LORDof hostsshall bless,saying,Blessed[be] Egyptmy people,and Assyriathe workof my hands,and Israelmine inheritance.
