Isaiah 31

1 Woe [a lament, a cry of sorrow] to those who go down [descend, journey to a lower place] to Egypt [the land of the Egyptians] for help [assistance, aid, support], who rely [trust, depend] on horses [chariot horses], who trust [have confidence, faith] in their abundance [great number, multitude] of chariots [vehicles of war, cavalry] and in their multitude [large number, great amount] of horsemen [cavalry soldiers, warriors]. They do not look [gaze, seek] to the Holy One [set apart, sacred] of Israel [God’s chosen people, a nation]; they do not seek [ask, search for] the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 2 Yet He [the all-wise God] too is wise [skilled, intelligent, and prudent] and brings disaster [evil, calamity, and affliction]; He does not call back [revoke or cancel] His words [promises, decrees, and declarations]. He will rise up [stand against, take a stand] against the house [family, dynasty, and household] of the wicked [those who are morally wrong, evil, and corrupt] and against the allies [helpers, supporters, and those who give aid] of evildoers [those who work iniquity, wickedness, and unrighteousness]. word study 3 But the Egyptians [are mere humans, not divine] are men, not [having God’s nature] God; their horses [physical, not spiritual beings] are flesh, not [the breath of life, spiritual essence] spirit. When the LORD [Yehovah] stretches out His [powerful, guiding] hand, the [one who provides aid] helper will stumble, and the one he helps [receives assistance, is aided] will fall; both will perish [come to an end, be destroyed] together. word study 4 For this is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] has said to me: “Like a lion roaring or a young lion over its prey [something torn apart, like food]— and though a band of shepherds [those who care for or tend to someone or something] is called out against it, it is not terrified [completely broken or shattered] by their shouting [a loud voice or sound] or subdued [humbled or oppressed] by their clamor [a state of turmoil or noise]— so the LORD [the supreme God] of Hosts [a large group of people or things, often an army] will come down [to go down or descend] to do battle [to serve or go to war] on Mount Zion [a mountain in Jerusalem, often used as another name for the city] and its heights [a small hill, with the name meaning hill]. word study 5 Like birds [flying] hovering overhead, so the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [a large group of people or things, an army] will protect [defend, shield from harm] Jerusalem [the city of peace, the capital of Palestine]. He will shield [cover, preserve] it and deliver [rescue, snatch away] it; He will pass over [limp, hop, spare] it and preserve [keep from danger, rescue] it.” word study 6 Return [come back, turn again] to the One [the Lord] against whom you have so [deeply, profoundly] blatantly rebelled [turned away, revolted], O children [sons, descendants] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, God’s chosen people]. word study 7 For [because of this reason] on that day [a specific point in time], every one of you [each individual] will reject [spurn, cast away] the idols [false gods, worthless objects] of silver [valuable metal, wealth] and gold [precious treasure] that your own hands [your personal actions] have sinfully [in a guilty, rebellious manner] made [created, fashioned]. word study 8 “Then Assyria [Asshur, the ancient nation] will fall [be defeated, come to an end], but not by the sword [cutting instrument, weapon] of man [a male person, human]; a sword [divine judgment, instrument of destruction] will devour [consume, eat] them, but not one made by mortals [human beings, men]. They will flee [run away, escape] before the sword [fearful situation, danger], and their young men [youth, chosen ones] will be put to forced labor [taskwork, servitude]. word study 9 Their rock [stronghold, place of security] will pass away [come to nothing, be shattered] for fear [terror, dread], and their princes [rulers, leaders] will panic [be dismayed, terrified] at the sight of the battle standard [ensign, flag],” declares the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God], whose fire [flame, burning presence] is in Zion [the city of God, the mountain of His holiness], whose furnace [oven, place of refining] is in Jerusalem [the city of peace, the capital of God’s people]. word study