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ISAIAH INSTITUTE TRANSLATION

  Isaiah

19

Isaiah 19

Although the world’s superpower Egypt suffers internal collapse, Jehovah delivers his covenanters.

1 An oracle concerning Egypt:
When Jehovah enters Egypt riding on swift clouds,the idols of Egypt will rock at his presenceand the Egyptians’ hearts melt within them.
2 I will stir up the Egyptians against the Egyptians;they will fight brother against brotherand neighbor against neighbor,city against city and state against state. 3 Egypt’s spirit shall be drained from within;I will frustrate their plans,and they will resort to the idols and to spiritists,to mediums and witchcraft.
4 Then will I deliver the Egyptiansinto the hand of a cruel master;a harsh ruler will subject them,says the Lord, Jehovah of Hosts.
5 The waters of the lakes shall ebb awayas stream beds become desolate and dry. 6 The rivers shall turn foul,and Egypt’s waterways recede and dry up.Reeds and rushes shall wither; 7 vegetation adjoining canals and estuaries, and all things sown along irrigation channels, shall shrivel and blow away and be no more. 8 Fishermen will deplore their lotand anglers in canals bemoan themselves;those who cast nets on waterwill be in misery. 9 Manufacturers of combed linenand weavers of fine fabrics will be dismayed. 10 The textile workers will know despair,and all who work for wages asuffer distress.a
11 The ministers of Zoan are utter fools;the wisest of Pharaoh’s advisers give absurd counsel.How can you say to Pharaoh,We ourselves are as wise as the first rulers? 12 Where are your wise men indeed?Let them please tell you, if they can discern it,what Jehovah of Hosts has in mind for Egypt!
13 The ministers of Zoan have been foolish,the officials of Noph deluded;the heads of state have led Egypt astray. 14 Jehovah has permeated themwith a spirit of confusion;they have misled Egypt in all that it does,causing it to stagger like a drunkard into his vomit. 15 And there shall be nothing the Egyptianscan do about it,neither head nor tail, palm top or reed.
16 In that day the Egyptians will be as women, fearful and afraid at the brandishing hand Jehovah of Hosts wields over them. 17 The land of Judah shall become a source of terror to the Egyptians; all reminded of it shall dread what Jehovah of Hosts has in store for them.
18 In that day five Hebrew-speaking cities in the land of Egypt will swear loyalty to Jehovah of Hosts. One shall be known as the City of Righteousness.b
19 In that day there shall be an altar erected to Jehovah in the midst of the land of Egypt and a monument to Jehovah at its border. 20 They shall serve as a sign and testimony of Jehovah of Hosts in the land of Egypt: when they cry out to Jehovah because of the oppressors, he will send them a savior, who will take up their cause and deliver them.
21 Jehovah will make himself known to the Egyptians, and the Egyptians shall know Jehovah in that day. They will worship by sacrifice and offerings, and make vows to Jehovah and fulfill them. 22 Jehovah will smite Egypt, and by smiting heal it: they will turn back to Jehovah, and he will respond to their pleas and heal them.
23 In that day there shall be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. Assyrians shall come to Egypt and Egyptians go to Assyria, and the Egyptians shall labor with the Assyrians.
24 In that day Israel shall be the third party to Egypt and to Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth. 25 Jehovah of Hosts will bless them, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance.

  • a10 Hebrew ᵓagmê nepeš, ponds for life, emended to ᶜagmê nepeš.
  • b18 So LXX. MT city of destruction; 1QIsaa city of the sun.


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