Isaiah 31

Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!

1Big trouble is coming to people who run down to Egypt for help. They lean on Egypt's horses. They trust its many chariots and its strong riders. But they do not look to the Holy One of Israel. They do not ask the LORD for help.

Note"Woe" is an old word. It means big trouble is on the way.

2Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words: but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity.

2But God is wise too. He said trouble would come, and he will not take back his words. He will stand up against the homes of people who do wrong. He will fight the ones who help them do wrong.

NoteThe KJV says God will "bring evil." Here "evil" means disaster or trouble, not something wicked.

3Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together.

3The Egyptians are only people, not God. Their horses are only flesh and blood, not spirit. When the LORD reaches out his hand, the helper will trip. The one being helped will fall. They will all go down together.

4For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the LORD of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof.

4The LORD said this to me. Picture a lion standing over the animal it caught, growling. A whole group of shepherds comes out shouting to chase it off. The lion is not afraid of their shouting. It does not back down from all their noise. In the same way, the LORD of Armies, the God who leads heaven's armies, will come down. He will fight for Mount Zion and for its hill.

5As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.

5Like birds flying above their nest, the LORD of Armies will guard Jerusalem. He will cover the city and rescue it. He will pass over it and keep it safe.

6Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted.

6People of Israel, turn back to God. You walked far away from him.

7For in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you for a sin.

7On that day every one of you will throw away your idols. They are statues made of silver and gold. Your own hands made them, and making them was a sin.

8Then shall the Assyrian fall with the sword, not of a mighty man; and the sword, not of a mean man, shall devour him: but he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall be discomfited.

8Then Assyria will fall by a sword. It will not be the sword of a strong soldier. A sword that no person made will eat them up. They will run away from that sword. Their young men will be put to hard, forced work.

9And he shall pass over to his strong hold for fear, and his princes shall be afraid of the ensign, saith the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.

9Their safe, rocky fort will slip away because they are so afraid. Their leaders will panic when they see the battle flag. That is what the LORD says. His fire burns in Zion. His hot oven burns in Jerusalem.

NoteThe KJV word "ensign" means a flag on a pole that an army carried into battle.