1 Woe to the Obstinate Nation
1 "Woe to the obstinate children," 1 declares the Lord, 1 "to those who carry out plans that are not mine, 1 forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, 1 heaping sin upon sin;
2 who go down to Egypt 2 without consulting me; 2 who look for help to Pharaoh's protection, 2 to Egypt's shade for refuge.
3 But Pharaoh's protection will be to your shame, 3 Egypt's shade will bring you disgrace.
4 Though they have officials in Zoan 4 and their envoys have arrived in Hanes,
5 everyone will be put to shame 5 because of a people useless to them, 5 who bring neither help nor advantage, 5 but only shame and disgrace."
6 An oracle concerning the animals of the Negev: 6 Through a land of hardship and distress, 6 of lions and lionesses, 6 of adders and darting snakes, 6 the envoys carry their riches on donkeys' backs, 6 their treasures on the humps of camels, 6 to that unprofitable nation, 7 to Egypt, whose help is utterly useless. 7 Therefore I call her 7 Rahab the Do-Nothing.
