Isaiah 19
1 An oracle concerning Egypt. Look: the LORD rides on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt. Egypt’s idols tremble before him, and Egypt’s heart melts within it.
2 I will stir up Egypt against Egypt: each person will fight against his brother and his neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom.
3 Egypt’s spirit will be emptied within it, and I will confuse its plans. They will seek the idols, the sorcerers, the mediums, and the fortune-tellers.
4 I will hand Egypt over to a harsh master, and a severe king will rule over them, says the Lord, the LORD of Hosts.
5 The waters of the sea will dry up, and the river will become dry and parched.
6 The rivers will stink, the canals of Egypt will fall and dry up; the reeds and rushes will wither.
7 The reeds by the Nile, along its banks, and every crop beside the Nile will dry up, be blown away, and disappear.
8 The fishermen will mourn; all who cast hooks into the Nile will grieve, and those who spread nets over the water will lose heart.
9 Those who work with combed flax will be disgraced, as will those who weave fine linen.
10 The foundations of the country will be crushed, and all who work for wages will be downcast within themselves.
11 The officials of Zoan are fools; Pharaoh’s wise counselors give foolish advice. How can you say to Pharaoh, “I am a son of the wise, a son of ancient kings”?
12 Where are your wise men now? Let them tell you and make known what the LORD of Hosts has decided against Egypt.
13 The officials of Zoan have become fools, the officials of Memphis are deceived; they have led Egypt astray—they, the cornerstone of its tribes.
14 The LORD has poured a spirit of confusion into its midst, and they have led Egypt astray in everything it does, as a drunkard staggers in his own vomit.
15 No one in Egypt will be able to do anything, whether head or tail, palm branch or reed.
16 On that day, Egypt will be like women: it will tremble and be afraid before the raised hand of the LORD of Hosts, which he lifts against it.
17 The land of Judah will be a terror to Egypt; everyone who hears of it will be afraid because of the plan the LORD of Hosts has decided against it.
18 On that day, there will be five cities in the land of Egypt speaking the language of Canaan and swearing allegiance to the LORD of Hosts. One of them will be called the City of Destruction.
19 On that day, there will be an altar to the LORD in the middle of the land of Egypt, and a sacred pillar to the LORD at its border.
20 This will be a sign and a witness to the LORD of Hosts in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and he will deliver them.
21 The LORD will make himself known to Egypt, and on that day Egypt will know the LORD. They will serve him with sacrifice and grain offering, make vows to the LORD, and fulfill them.
22 The LORD will strike Egypt—striking and healing—and they will return to the LORD. He will answer their pleas and heal them.
23 On that day, there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. Assyria will go to Egypt, and Egypt to Assyria, and Egypt will serve alongside Assyria.
24 On that day, Israel will be the third, alongside Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth.
25 The LORD of Hosts will bless them, saying, “Blessed be Egypt, my people, Assyria, the work of my hands, and Israel, my inheritance.”
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