11-15 The princes of Zoan are fools,
    the advisors of Pharaoh stupid.
How could any of you dare tell Pharaoh,
    “Trust me: I’m wise. I know what’s going on.
    Why, I’m descended from the old wisdom of Egypt”?
There’s not a wise man or woman left in the country.
    If there were, one of them would tell you
    what God-of-the-Angel-Armies has in mind for Egypt.
As it is, the princes of Zoan are all fools
    and the princes of Memphis, idiots.
The honored pillars of your society
    have led Egypt into detours and dead ends.
God has scrambled their brains,
    Egypt’s become a falling-down-in-his-own-vomit drunk.
Egypt’s hopeless, past helping,
    a senile, doddering old fool.

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11 The officials of Zoan(A) are nothing but fools;
    the wise counselors(B) of Pharaoh give senseless advice.(C)
How can you say to Pharaoh,
    “I am one of the wise men,(D)
    a disciple of the ancient kings”?

12 Where are your wise men(E) now?
    Let them show you and make known
what the Lord Almighty
    has planned(F) against Egypt.
13 The officials of Zoan(G) have become fools,
    the leaders of Memphis(H) are deceived;
the cornerstones(I) of her peoples
    have led Egypt astray.

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