¹ Ah! Rebellious children,
    oracle of the Lord,
Who carry out a plan that is not mine,
    who make an alliance^[b] I did not inspire,
    thus adding sin upon sin;^(A)
2 They go down to Egypt,
    without asking my counsel,^[c]
To seek strength in Pharaoh’s protection
    and take refuge in Egypt’s shadow.^(B)
3 Pharaoh’s protection shall become your shame,
    refuge in Egypt’s shadow your disgrace.^(C)
4 When his princes are at Zoan
    and his messengers reach Hanes,^(D)
5 All shall be ashamed
    of a people that gain them nothing,
Neither help nor benefit,
    but only shame and reproach.^(E)
6     Oracle on the Beasts of the Negeb.
Through the distressed and troubled land^[d]
    of the lioness and roaring lion,
    of the viper and flying saraph,
They carry their riches on the backs of donkeys
    and their treasures on the humps of camels
To a people good for nothing,
⁷     to Egypt whose help is futile and vain.
Therefore I call her
    “Rahab^[e] Sit-still.”

¹ Ah! Those who go down to Egypt for help,
    who rely on horses;
Who put their trust in chariots because of their number,
    and in horsemen because of their combined power,
But look not to the Holy One of Israel
    nor seek the Lord!^[a](A)
2 Yet he too is wise and will bring disaster;
    he will not turn from his threats.
He will rise up against the house of the wicked
    and against those who help evildoers.^(B)
3 The Egyptians are human beings, not God,
    their horses flesh, not spirit;
When the Lord stretches forth his hand,
    the helper shall stumble, the one helped shall fall,
    and both of them shall perish together.^(C)

^6 (A)Then all the inhabitants of Egypt
    will know that I am the Lord.
Because you were a staff of reeds^[a]
    for the house of Israel:
⁷ When they took hold of you, you would splinter,
    throwing shoulders out of joint.
When they leaned on you, you would break,
    pitching them down headlong.