Isaiah 19

¹ Oracle on Egypt: See, the LORD is riding on a swift cloud on his way to Egypt; The idols of Egypt tremble before him, the hearts of the Egyptians melt within them.

² I will rouse Egypt against Egypt: brother will war against brother, Neighbor against neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kindgom.

³ The courage of the Egyptians ebbs away within them, and I will bring to nought their counsel; They shall consult idols and charmers, ghosts and spirits.

⁴ I will deliver Egypt into the power of a cruel master, A harsh king who shall rule over them, says the Lord, the LORD of hosts.

⁵ The waters shall be drained from the sea, the river shall shrivel and dry up;

⁶ Its streams shall become foul, and the canals of Egypt shall dwindle and dry up. Reeds and rushes shall wither away,

⁷ and bulrushes on the bank of the Nile; All the sown land along the Nile shall dry up and blow away, and be no more.

⁸ The fishermen shall mourn and lament, all who cast hook in the Nile; Those who spread their nets in the water shall pine away.

⁹ The linen-workers shall be disappointed, the combers and weavers shall turn pale;

¹⁰ The spinners shall be crushed, all the hired laborers shall be despondent.

¹¹ Utter fools are the princes of Zoan! the wisest of Pharaoh's advisers give stupid counsel. How can you say to Pharaoh, "I am a disciple of wise men, of ancient kings"?

¹² Where then are your wise men? Let them tell you and make known What the LORD of hosts has planned against Egypt.

¹³ The princes of Zoan have become fools, the princes of Memphis have been deceived. The chiefs of her tribes have led Egypt astray.

¹⁴ The LORD has prepared among them a spirit of dizziness, And they have made Egypt stagger in whatever she does, as a drunkard staggers in his vomit.

¹⁵ Egypt shall have no work to do for head or tail, palm branch or reed.

¹⁶ On that day the Egyptians shall be like women, trembling with fear, because of the LORD of hosts shaking his fist at them.

¹⁷ And the land of Judah shall be a terror to the Egyptians. Every time they remember Judah, they shall stand in dread because of the plan which the LORD of hosts has in mind for them.

¹⁸ On that day there shall be five cities in the land of Egypt speaking the language of Canaan and swearing by the LORD of hosts; one shall be called "City of the Sun."

¹⁹ On that day there shall be an altar to the LORD in the land of Egypt, and a sacred pillar to the LORD near the boundary.

²⁰ It shall be a sign and a witness to the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt, when they cry out to the LORD against their oppressors, and he sends them a savior to defend and deliver them.

²¹ The LORD shall make himself known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day; they shall offer sacrifices and oblations, and fulfill the vows they make to the LORD.

²² Although the LORD shall smite Egypt severely, he shall heal them; they shall turn to the LORD and he shall be won over and heal them.

²³ On that day there shall be a highway from Egypt to Assyria; the Assyrians shall enter Egypt, and the Egyptians enter Assyria, and Egypt shall serve Assyria.

²⁴ On that day Israel shall be a third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the land,

²⁵ when the LORD of hosts blesses it: "Blessed be my people Egypt, and the work of my hands Assyria, and my inheritance, Israel."