1How terrible for those who go to Egypt for help, relying on horses, trusting in many chariots and very strong horsemen, but not looking to the Holy One of Israel or seeking Yahweh!
2Yet he is also wise and will bring disaster; he will not change his mind. He will rise up against the wicked and against those who help people who do wrong.
3For the Egyptians are merely men, not God; and their horses are flesh, not spirit. When Yahweh stretches out his hand, both the helper will stumble and the one being helped will fall, and they will all perish together.
4For Yahweh says to me, "Just as a lion or a young lion growling over its prey is not scared by a crowd of shepherds gathered against it, nor intimidated by their noise, so Yahweh of Armies will come down to fight on Mount Zion and its heights."
5Like birds circling, so Yahweh of Armies will protect Jerusalem. He will protect and rescue it; he will pass over and preserve it.
6Turn back to him from whom you, children of Israel, have deeply rebelled.
7For on that day, everyone will throw away their silver and gold idols—the sinful things their own hands made for them.
8“The Assyrian army will be defeated, but not by human swords; a sword, not wielded by people, will destroy them. They will run from the sword, and their young men will be forced into labor.
9Their strong leaders will collapse in terror, and their princes will be frightened by the battle flag,” says Yahweh, whose fire is in Zion and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.