1 The burden of Egypt: Behold, Adonai rides upon a swift cloud and comes to Egypt. Egypt’s idols tremble before Him and Egypt’s heart melts within them.
2 I will stir up Egyptian against Egyptian. Everyone will fight against his brother, and everyone against his neighbor— city against city, kingdom against kingdom.
3 The spirit of Egypt will drain within it, and I will confuse its counsel. So they will resort to idols, charmers, mediums and familiar spirits.
4 I will give the Egyptians into the hand of a cruel master—a fierce king will rule over them. It is a declaration of Adonai-Tzva’ot.
5 The waters from the sea will dry up, and the river will be drained dry.
6 Then the channels will stink. The streams of Egypt will dwindle and dry up. Reeds and rushes will rot.
7 The bulrushes by the Nile, by the mouth of the Nile, and everything sown by the Nile will wither, blow away and be no more.
8 Then the fishermen will lament. All who cast hooks in the Nile will mourn, and those who spread nets on the waters will languish.
9 Moreover the workers of fine flax, and the weavers of white cloth will be ashamed.
10 Her pillars will be crushed, All hired workers will be grieved in soul.
11 The princes of Zoan are utter fools. Pharaoh’s wisest counselors are stupid. How can you say to Pharaoh, “I am the son of the wise, a son of ancient kings”?
12 Where then are your wise men? Let them tell you now! Let them know what Adonai-Tzva’ot has purposed against Egypt.
13 The princes of Zoan are fools. the princes of Noph are deceived. The cornerstone of her tribes have led Egypt astray.
14 Adonai has mixed within her a spirit of dizziness. They make Egypt stagger in every work, as a drunkard staggers in his vomit.
15 There will be no work for Egypt to do, for head or tail, palm branch or rush.
16 In that day Egypt will be like women trembling with fear, because of the shaking hand of Adonai-Tzva’ot, which He is about to wave over it.
17 The land of Judah will terrify Egypt. Anyone who mentions it will be afraid, because of what Adonai-Tzva’ot has surely purposed against it.
18 In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan, swearing allegiance to Adonai-Tzva’ot. One used to be called the City of the Sun.
19 In that day there will be an altar to Adonai in the middle of the land of Egypt, and next to the border a pillar to Adonai.
20 It will be as a sign and a witness to Adonai-Tzva’ot in the land of Egypt. For they will cry to Adonai because of oppressors, and He will send them a savior and defender—and he will deliver them.
21 So Adonai will make Himself known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know Adonai in that day. They will worship with sacrifice and offering. They will vow to Adonai, and fulfill it.
22 So Adonai will strike Egypt—striking yet healing—so they will return to Adonai, and He will respond to them and heal them.
23 In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrians will come to Egypt, and the Egyptians to Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians.
24 In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria—a blessing in the midst of the earth.
25 For Adonai-Tzva’ot has blessed, saying: “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria My handiwork, and Israel My inheritance.”