1 Tragedy is coming to those who appeal to Egypt for help, depending on their horses and trusting in all their chariots and charioteers! They don't look to the Holy One of Israel for help; they don't ask the Lord for advice. 2 Yet he's also wise! He will bring disaster and won't withdraw his orders. He will take action against this wicked nation* “Wicked nation”: literally, “house of evil”—referring particularly to the royal house who led the nation in seeking an alliance with Egypt. and the evil people who help them. 3 The Egyptians are only human beings—they're not God! Their horses are only physical, not spiritual. When the Lord lifts up his hand to attack, those who came to help will stumble, and those who are helped will fall. They will all die together.

4 This is what the Lord told me: It's like a young lion growling as it stands over its prey. Even though a lot of shepherds come to protest, it's not frightened off by their shouting or intimidated by all their noise. In the same way the Lord Almighty will come down to fight on Mount Zion. 5 Like birds that hover above, so the Lord Almighty will take care of Jerusalem. He will protect it and save it; he will pass over† “Pass over”: the same word as used for the Passover. it and rescue it.

6 Come back, Israelites, to the one you so blatantly rebelled against. 7 For at that time every one of you will throw away all the idols of silver and gold made by your own sinful hands. 8 The Assyrians will be killed by the sword of one who is not a man. They will destroyed by the sword of one who is not mortal. They will run away at the sight of the sword,‡ The sword of the Lord. and the young Assyrian men will be taken away as slave laborers. 9 Their “rock”§ Thought to refer to the Assyrian king. will be scared to death, and their officers will be terrified and in panic at the sight of the battle flag, declares the Lord, who has his fire in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.