The Worthless Treaty with Egypt
1Woeto the rebelliouschildren,saiththe LORD,that takecounsel,but not of me; and that coverwith a covering,but not of my spirit,that they may addsinto sin:
2That walkto go downinto Egypt,and have not askedat my mouth;to strengthenthemselves in the strengthof Pharaoh,and to trustin the shadowof Egypt!
3Therefore shall the strengthof Pharaohbe your shame,and the trustin the shadowof Egypt[your] confusion.
4For his princeswere at Zoan,and his ambassadorscameto Hanes.
5They were all ashamedof a people[that] could not profitthem, nor be an helpnor profit,but a shame,and also a reproach.
6The burdenof the beastsof the south:into the landof troubleand anguish,from whence [come] the youngand old lion,the viperand fieryflyingserpent,they will carrytheir richesupon the shouldersof young asses,and their treasuresupon the bunchesof camels,to a people[that] shall not profit[them].
7For the Egyptiansshall helpin vain,and to no purpose:therefore have I criedconcerning this,Theirstrength[is] to sit still.
A Warning to a Rebellious People
8Now go,writeit before them in a table,and noteit in a book,that it may be for the timeto comeforeverand ever:
9That this [is] a rebelliouspeople,lyingchildren,children[that] willnot hearthe lawof the LORD:
10Which sayto the seers,Seenot; and to the prophets,Prophesynot unto us right things,speakunto us smooth things,prophesydeceits:
11Get you outof the way,turn asideout of the path,cause the Holy Oneof Israelto ceasefrom beforeus.
12Wherefore thus saiththe Holy Oneof Israel,Because ye despisethis word,and trustin oppressionand perverseness,and staythereon:
13Therefore this iniquityshall be to you as a breachready to fall,swelling outin a highwall,whose breakingcomethsuddenlyat an instant.
14And he shall breakit as the breakingof the potters'vesselthat is broken in pieces;he shall not spare:so that there shall not be foundin the burstingof it a sherdto takefirefrom the hearth,or to takewater[withal] out of the pit.
15For thus saiththe LordGOD,the Holy Oneof Israel;In returningand restshall ye be saved;in quietnessand in confidenceshall be your strength:and ye wouldnot.
16But ye said,No; for we will fleeupon horses;therefore shall ye flee:and, We will rideupon the swift;therefore shall they that pursueyou be swift.
17Onethousand[shall flee] atthe rebukeof one;atthe rebukeof fiveshall ye flee:till ye be leftas a beaconupon the topof a mountain,and as an ensignon an hill.
God's Mercies
18And therefore will the LORDwait,that he may be graciousunto you, and therefore will he be exalted,that he may have mercyupon you: for the LORD[is] a Godof judgment:blessed[are] all they that waitfor him.
19For the peopleshall dwellin Zionat Jerusalem:thou shalt weepno more:he will be verygraciousunto thee at the voiceof thy cry;when he shall hearit, he will answerthee.20And [though] the Lordgiveyou the breadof adversity,and the waterof affliction,yet shall not thy teachersbe removed into a cornerany more, but thine eyesshall seethy teachers:21And thine earsshall heara wordbehindthee, saying,This [is] the way,walk ye in it,when ye turn to the right hand,and when ye turn to the left.22Ye shall defilealso the coveringof thy graven imagesof silver,and the ornamentof thy molten imagesof gold:thou shalt cast them awayas a menstruous cloth;thou shalt sayunto it, Get thee hence.
23Then shall he givethe rainof thy seed,that thou shalt sowthe groundwithal; and breadof the increaseof the earth,and it shall be fatand plenteous:in that dayshall thy cattlefeedin largepastures.24The oxenlikewise and the young assesthat earthe groundshall eatcleanprovender,which hath been winnowedwith the shoveland with the fan.25And there shall be upon every highmountain,and upon every highhill,rivers[and] streamsof watersin the dayof the greatslaughter,when the towersfall.26Moreover the lightof the moonshall be as the lightof the sun,and the lightof the sunshall be sevenfold,as the lightof sevendays,in the daythat the LORDbindeth upthe breachof his people,and healeththe strokeof their wound.
27Behold, the nameof the LORDcomethfrom far,burning[with] his anger,and the burden[thereof is] heavy:his lipsare fullof indignation,and his tongueas a devouringfire:
28And his breath,as an overflowingstream,shall reach to the midstof the neck,to siftthe nationswith the sieveof vanity:and [there shall be] a bridlein the jawsof the people,causing [them] to err.
29Ye shall have a song,as in the night[when] a holysolemnityis kept;and gladnessof heart,as when one goethwith a pipeto comeinto the mountainof the LORD,to the mighty Oneof Israel.
30And the LORDshall cause his gloriousvoiceto be heard,and shall shewthe lighting downof his arm,with the indignationof [his] anger,and [with] the flameof a devouringfire,[with] scattering,and tempest,and hailstones.
31For through the voiceof the LORDshall the Assyrianbe beaten down,[which] smotewith a rod.
32And [in] every placewhere the groundedstaffshall pass,which the LORDshall layupon him, [it] shall be with tabretsand harps:and in battlesof shakingwill he fightwith it.
33For Tophet[is] ordainedof old;yea, for the kingit is prepared;he hath made [it] deep[and] large:the pilethereof [is] fireand muchwood;the breathof the LORD,like a streamof brimstone,doth kindleit.
