Isaiah 19

The burden of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.

A solemn message against Egypt. Picture this: God rides on a swift cloud and is coming to Egypt. His presence will shake Egypt's idols, causing them to tremble. And Egypt's heart? It will melt in fear.

And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.

I will stir conflict among the Egyptians, causing brother to battle brother, neighbor against neighbor, and entire cities and kingdoms to clash.

And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards.

Egypt's spirit will falter, their wisdom will crumble. They'll turn to idols, enchanters, and wizards in desperation.

And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts.

I will surrender the Egyptians to a ruthless leader; a harsh king will govern them, declares the Lord, the Supreme Commander.

And the waters shall fail from the sea, and the river shall be wasted and dried up.

The sea will lose its water, and the river will wither and become barren.

And they shall turn the rivers far away; and the brooks of defence shall be emptied and dried up: the reeds and flags shall wither.

They will redirect the rivers, leaving our protective streams barren and parched. The reeds and flags, too, will wilt and fade.

The paper reeds by the brooks, by the mouth of the brooks, and every thing sown by the brooks, shall wither, be driven away, and be no more.

The plants by the streams, at the stream's edge, and all that's planted near the streams, will wilt, be swept away, and vanish.

The fishers also shall mourn, and all they that cast angle into the brooks shall lament, and they that spread nets upon the waters shall languish.

Those who fish will be filled with sorrow, those who cast lines into the streams will grieve, and those who set nets on the waters will feel weak and hopeless.

Moreover they that work in fine flax, and they that weave networks, shall be confounded.

Those who labor in delicate flax and those who weave intricate patterns will be left in dismay.

And they shall be broken in the purposes thereof, all that make sluices and ponds for fish.

Those who build canals and ponds for fish will find their plans shattered.

Surely the princes of Zoan are fools, the counsel of the wise counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?

Without a doubt, Zoan's leaders lack wisdom, and Pharaoh's advisors have lost their sense. How can they claim to Pharaoh, "I am a descendant of the wise and of ancient kings?"

Where are they? where are thy wise men? and let them tell thee now, and let them know what the LORD of hosts hath purposed upon Egypt.

Where are your wise ones now? Let them step forward, let them reveal the divine plan that the Lord has for Egypt.

The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also seduced Egypt, even they that are the stay of the tribes thereof.

The leaders of Zoan have lost their wisdom, the rulers of Noph have been misled. They've led Egypt astray, even those who were supposed to guide its people.

The LORD hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit.

God has poured a spirit of confusion into their midst, leading them astray. Just like a drunk man staggering in his own vomit, they've led Egypt into chaos in everything it does.

Neither shall there be any work for Egypt, which the head or tail, branch or rush, may do.

Egypt will find no task, whether big or small, significant or trivial, that they can accomplish.

In that day shall Egypt be like unto women: and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which he shaketh over it.

On that day, Egypt will tremble like a frightened woman, terrified by the mighty hand of the Lord waving over it.

And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt, every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the LORD of hosts, which he hath determined against it.

The region of Judah will instill deep fear in Egypt. Anyone who even speaks of it will tremble, terrified by God's planned actions against it.

In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the LORD of hosts; one shall be called, The city of destruction.

On that day, five Egyptian cities will adopt the Canaanite language, pledging their loyalty to the Lord Almighty. One of these cities will be known as the City of Ruin.

In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the LORD.

On that day, a sacred altar will rise in the heart of Egypt, dedicated to the LORD, and a monument to Him will stand at its boundary.

And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them.

In Egypt, a sign will stand as proof of God's power. The people, crushed by their tormentors, will call out to God. In response, He will send a mighty savior to free them.

And the LORD shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the LORD, and perform it.

In that day, Egypt will recognize the LORD, and they will honor Him with sacrifices and offerings. They will make a promise to the LORD and will keep it.

And the LORD shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the LORD, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them.

God will discipline Egypt, but also mend its wounds. They will turn back to God, pleading for His mercy, and He will graciously heal them.

In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians.

On that day, a highway will run from Egypt to Assyria. Assyrians will come into Egypt and Egyptians into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship God together with the Assyrians.

In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land:

On that day, Israel will stand united with Egypt and Assyria, becoming a beacon of hope and blessing in the heart of the land.

Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.

The Lord Almighty will shower blessings, saying, "May Egypt, my beloved people, be blessed. May Assyria, the fruit of my labor, prosper. And may Israel, my cherished inheritance, thrive."