1
"Woe to the rebellious children," says the Lord, "Who take counsel, but not of Me, And who devise plans, but not of My Spirit, That they may add sin to sin;
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Who walk to go down to Egypt, And have not asked My advice, To strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, And to trust in the shadow of Egypt!
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Therefore the strength of Pharaoh Shall be your shame, And trust in the shadow of Egypt Shall be your humiliation.
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For his princes were at Zoan, And his ambassadors came to Hanes.
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They were all ashamed of a people who could not benefit them, Or be help or benefit, But a shame and also a reproach."
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The burden against the beasts of the South. Through a land of trouble and anguish, From which came the lioness and lion, The viper and fiery flying serpent, They will carry their riches on the backs of young donkeys, And their treasures on the humps of camels, To a people who shall not profit;
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For the Egyptians shall help in vain and to no purpose. Therefore I have called her Rahab-Hem-Shebeth.
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Now go, write it before them on a tablet, And note it on a scroll, That it may be for time to come, Forever and ever:
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That this is a rebellious people, Lying children, Children who will not hear the law of the Lord;
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Who say to the seers, "Do not see," And to the prophets, "Do not prophesy to us right things; Speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits.
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Get out of the way, Turn aside from the path, Cause the Holy One of Israel To cease from before us."
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Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel: "Because you despise this word, And trust in oppression and perversity, And rely on them,
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Therefore this iniquity shall be to you Like a breach ready to fall, A bulge in a high wall, Whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant.
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And He shall break it like the breaking of the potter's vessel, Which is broken in pieces; He shall not spare. So there shall not be found among its fragments A shard to take fire from the hearth, Or to take water from the cistern."
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For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: "In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength." But you would not,
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And you said, "No, for we will flee on horses"-- Therefore you shall flee! And, "We will ride on swift horses"-- Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift!
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One thousand shall flee at the threat of one, At the threat of five you shall flee, Till you are left as a pole on top of a mountain And as a banner on a hill.