1. Woe to the rebellious children, saith Jehovah, that take counsel, but not of me; and that make a league, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin,
2. that set out to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to take refuge in the shadow of Egypt!
3. Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the refuge in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.
4. For their princes are at Zoan, and their ambassadors are come to Hanes.
5. They shall all be ashamed because of a people that cannot profit them, that are not a help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.
6. The burden of the beasts of the South. Through the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the lioness and the lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the humps of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.
7. For Egypt helpeth in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I called her Rahab that sitteth still.
8. Now go, write it before them on a tablet, and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever.
9. For it is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of Jehovah;
10. that say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits,
11. get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.
12. Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and rely thereon;