Isaiah 31-32

New International Version

Woe to Those Who Rely on Egypt

31 Woe^(A) to those who go down to Egypt^(B) for help,
    who rely on horses,^(C)
who trust in the multitude of their chariots^(D)
    and in the great strength of their horsemen,
but do not look to the Holy One^(E) of Israel,
    or seek help from the Lord.^(F)
²Yet he too is wise^(G) and can bring disaster;^(H)
    he does not take back his words.^(I)
He will rise up against that wicked nation,^(J)
    against those who help evildoers.
³But the Egyptians^(K) are mere mortals and not God;^(L)
    their horses^(M) are flesh and not spirit.
When the Lord stretches out his hand,^(N)
    those who help will stumble,
    those who are helped^(O) will fall;
    all will perish together.^(P)

⁴This is what the Lord says to me:

“As a lion^(Q) growls,
    a great lion over its prey—
and though a whole band of shepherds^(R)
    is called together against it,
it is not frightened by their shouts
    or disturbed by their clamor^(S)—
so the Lord Almighty will come down^(T)
    to do battle on Mount Zion and on its heights.
⁵Like birds hovering^(U) overhead,
    the Lord Almighty will shield^(V) Jerusalem;
he will shield it and deliver^(W) it,
    he will ‘pass over’^(X) it and will rescue it.”

⁶Return,^(Y) you Israelites, to the One you have so greatly revolted^(Z) against. ⁷For in that day^(AA) every one of you will reject the idols of silver and gold^(AB) your sinful hands have made.^(AC)

⁸“Assyria^(AD) will fall by no human sword;
    a sword, not of mortals, will devour^(AE) them.
They will flee before the sword
    and their young men will be put to forced labor.^(AF)
⁹Their stronghold^(AG) will fall because of terror;
    at the sight of the battle standard^(AH) their commanders will panic,^(AI)”
declares the Lord,
    whose fire^(AJ) is in Zion,
    whose furnace^(AK) is in Jerusalem.

The Kingdom of Righteousness

32 See, a king^(AL) will reign in righteousness
    and rulers will rule with justice.^(AM)
²Each one will be like a shelter^(AN) from the wind
    and a refuge from the storm,^(AO)
like streams of water^(AP) in the desert^(AQ)
    and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land.

³Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed,^(AR)
    and the ears^(AS) of those who hear will listen.
⁴The fearful heart will know and understand,^(AT)
    and the stammering tongue^(AU) will be fluent and clear.
⁵No longer will the fool^(AV) be called noble
    nor the scoundrel be highly respected.
⁶For fools speak folly,^(AW)
    their hearts are bent on evil:^(AX)
They practice ungodliness^(AY)
    and spread error^(AZ) concerning the Lord;
the hungry they leave empty^(BA)
    and from the thirsty they withhold water.
⁷Scoundrels use wicked methods,^(BB)
    they make up evil schemes^(BC)
to destroy the poor with lies,
    even when the plea of the needy^(BD) is just.^(BE)
⁸But the noble make noble plans,
    and by noble deeds^(BF) they stand.^(BG)

The Women of Jerusalem

⁹You women^(BH) who are so complacent,
    rise up and listen^(BI) to me;
you daughters who feel secure,^(BJ)
    hear what I have to say!
¹⁰In little more than a year^(BK)
    you who feel secure will tremble;
the grape harvest will fail,^(BL)
    and the harvest of fruit will not come.
¹¹Tremble,^(BM) you complacent women;
    shudder, you daughters who feel secure!^(BN)
Strip off your fine clothes^(BO)
    and wrap yourselves in rags.^(BP)
¹²Beat your breasts^(BQ) for the pleasant fields,
    for the fruitful vines^(BR)
¹³and for the land of my people,
    a land overgrown with thorns and briers^(BS)—
yes, mourn^(BT) for all houses of merriment
    and for this city of revelry.^(BU)
¹⁴The fortress^(BV) will be abandoned,
    the noisy city deserted;^(BW)
citadel and watchtower^(BX) will become a wasteland forever,
    the delight of donkeys,^(BY) a pasture for flocks,^(BZ)
¹⁵till the Spirit^(CA) is poured on us from on high,
    and the desert becomes a fertile field,^(CB)
    and the fertile field seems like a forest.^(CC)
¹⁶The Lord’s justice^(CD) will dwell in the desert,^(CE)
    his righteousness^(CF) live in the fertile field.
¹⁷The fruit of that righteousness^(CG) will be peace;^(CH)
    its effect will be quietness and confidence^(CI) forever.
¹⁸My people will live in peaceful^(CJ) dwelling places,
    in secure homes,^(CK)
    in undisturbed places of rest.^(CL)
¹⁹Though hail^(CM) flattens the forest^(CN)
    and the city is leveled^(CO) completely,
²⁰how blessed you will be,
    sowing^(CP) your seed by every stream,^(CQ)
    and letting your cattle and donkeys range free.^(CR)