Isaiah 19

The Lord’s Judgment on Egypt

1 This is the message about Egypt: Look, the Lord is coming on a swift cloud, riding in with power. The idols of Egypt shake in fear, and their hearts melt inside them.

2 “I will stir up Egyptians to fight against Egyptians, brother against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom.”

3 “The spirit of Egypt will be crushed within them, and I will confuse their plans. They will run to idols, spirits of the dead, and fortune-tellers for answers.”

4 “I will hand Egypt over to a cruel master, a harsh king will rule over them,” declares the Lord, the Lord of Armies.

Egypt’s Collapse

5 The waters of the Nile will dry up, and the riverbed will be parched and empty.

6 The canals will stink, the streams of Egypt will dwindle and dry, the reeds and rushes will wither.

7 Every plant along the Nile, every crop by the river, will dry up, blow away, and disappear.

8 The fishermen will cry, all who cast lines into the Nile will mourn, and those who spread nets in the water will fade away.

9 Those who work with fine linen, weaving white cloth, will be brought low.

10 The workers and craftsmen will lose hope, every hired man broken in spirit.

Egypt’s Leaders Fail

11 The officials of Zoan are fools; Pharaoh’s wisest counselors give stupid advice.“How can you say, ‘I am a descendant of the ancient kings,’ when you cannot even read the signs?”

12 Where are your wise men now, Let them tell you what the Lord of Armies has planned for Egypt.

13 The princes of Zoan have lost it; the leaders of Memphis are deceived. The rulers of the tribes have led Egypt straight off course.

14 The Lord has poured into them a spirit of confusion, Egypt’s staggering around like a drunk man throwing up in his own mess.

15 There is nothing Egypt can do, head or tail, palm branch or reed, they are done.

Egypt Will Fear the Lord

16 In that day, Egypt will shake like scared women, trembling when they hear the Lord of Armies lift His hand against them.

17 The land of Judah will terrify Egypt; just hearing Judah’s name will make them quake, because of what the Lord of Armies is planning against them.

Egypt Turns to the Lord

18 In that day, five cities in Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear loyalty to the Lord of Armies. One of them will be called “City of the Sun.”

19 In that day, there will be an altar to the Lord in the middle of Egypt and a pillar to the Lord at its border.

20 It will be a sign and witness to the Lord of Armies in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the Lord because of their oppressors, He will send them a Savior and Defender, and He will rescue them.

21 The Lord will make Himself known to the Egyptians, and they will know Him that day. They will worship with sacrifices and offerings, make vows to the Lord, and keep them.

22 The Lord will strike Egypt, strike and heal it. They will turn back to the Lord, and He will listen and heal them.

Egypt, Assyria, and Israel United

23 In that day, there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will come to Egypt, and the Egyptians to Assyria, and they will worship together.

24 In that day, Israel will join Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the middle of the earth.

25 The Lord of Armies will bless them, saying, “Blessed be Egypt My people, Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.”