Isaiah 31 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

Disaster is coming for those who go down to Egypt for help, who lean on horses, who trust in chariots because there are so many, and in riders because they are so strong — but never look to the set-apart One of Israel, never seek out Yahweh.

But he is wise too — imagine that! He brings disaster, and he does not take back his words. He will rise against the house of those who do evil and against the allies who help those who cause harm.

The Egyptians are human, not God. Their horses are flesh, not spirit. When Yahweh stretches out his hand, the helper will stumble and the one being helped will fall — they will all be finished together.

This is what Yahweh told me: Like a lion — a great lion — growling over its prey, and though a whole crowd of shepherds is called out against it, it is not frightened by their shouting or disturbed by their noise — that is how Yahweh who commands armies will come down to fight on Mount Zion, on its heights.

Like birds hovering overhead, Yahweh who commands armies will shield Jerusalem — shielding and delivering, passing over and rescuing.

Come back to the one you have so deeply rebelled against, people of Israel.

On that day, every one of you will throw away the idols of silver and idols of gold that your own hands made — to your shame.

Assyria will fall — but not by a human sword. A sword will devour them — but not one swung by a man. They will flee from the sword, and their young warriors will be put to forced labor.

Their stronghold will vanish in terror, and their commanders will panic and abandon the battle standard. This is the declaration of Yahweh, whose fire blazes in Zion, whose furnace burns in Jerusalem.