1A message about Egypt: "Look, Yahweh is riding on a swift cloud and coming to Egypt. The idols of Egypt will tremble in his presence, and the courage of Egypt will melt away.
2I will pit Egyptians against Egyptians; everyone will fight against his brother, and everyone against his neighbor; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.
3The spirit of Egypt will fail within them. I will destroy their plans. They will consult idols, charmers, mediums, and wizards.
4I will hand the Egyptians over to a cruel master. A harsh king will rule over them," says the Lord, Yahweh of Armies.
5The waters of the sea will dry up, and the river will become parched and dry.
6The rivers will stink. The streams of Egypt will dwindle and dry up. The reeds and rushes will wither away.
7The meadows along the Nile, right at the river's edge, and all the planted fields by the Nile, will dry up, be blown away, and vanish.
8The fishermen will grieve, and all who cast lines into the Nile will mourn, and those who spread nets on the water will lose heart.
9Furthermore, those who work with combed flax and those who weave white cloth will be confused.
10The pillars will be shattered. All those who work for wages will be deeply distressed.
11The officials of Zoan are complete fools. The advice of Pharaoh's wisest counselors has become stupid. How can you tell Pharaoh, "I am a descendant of wise men, a descendant of ancient kings?"?
12So where are your wise men? Let them tell you now; let them reveal what Yahweh of Armies has planned for Egypt.
13The leaders of Zoan have become foolish. The leaders of Memphis are tricked. They have led Egypt astray, even though they were the foundation of its tribes.
14Yahweh has put a confusing spirit in the middle of Egypt; and it has caused Egypt to wander aimlessly in all its work, like a drunk man stumbling in his own vomit.
15There will be no work left for Egypt, whether done by the head or the tail, the palm branch or the reed.
16On that day, the Egyptians will be like women. They will tremble and be afraid because of the powerful hand of Yahweh of Armies, which he waves over them.
17The land of Judah will become something terrifying to Egypt. Everyone who hears about it will be afraid, because of the plans Yahweh of Armies is making against it.
18On that day, there will be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of Canaan and promise loyalty to Yahweh of Armies. One of them will be called 'The city of destruction.'
19On that day, there will be an altar dedicated to Yahweh in the middle of Egypt, and a monument dedicated to Yahweh at its border.
20It will be a sign and a witness to Yahweh of Armies in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to Yahweh because of their oppressors, he will send them a savior and a protector, and he will rescue them.
21Yahweh will reveal himself to Egypt, and on that day, the Egyptians will know Yahweh. Yes, they will worship with sacrifices and offerings, and they will make promises to Yahweh and keep them.
22Yahweh will strike Egypt, both striking and healing them. They will return to Yahweh, and he will listen to their pleas and heal them.
23On that day, there will be a main road from Egypt to Assyria. Assyrians will go into Egypt, and Egyptians will go into Assyria. The Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians.
24On that day, Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing throughout the earth.
25because Yahweh of Armies has blessed them, saying, 'Blessed be Egypt, my people, Assyria, the work of my hands, and Israel, my chosen nation.'