1. Woe to the rebellious children, saith Jehovah, who take counsel, but not of me, and who make leagues, but not by my Spirit, that they may heap sin upon sin;
2. who walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked of my mouth, --to take refuge under the protection of Pharaoh, and trust in the shadow of Egypt!
3. For to you the protection of Pharaoh shall be a shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt a confusion.
4. For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to Hanes.
5. They were all ashamed of a people that did not profit them, nor were a help or profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.
6. --The burden of the beasts of the south: Through a land of trouble and anguish, whence come the lioness and lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they carry their riches upon the shoulders of asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to the people that shall not profit them.
7. For Egypt shall help in vain, and to no purpose; therefore have I named her, Arrogance, that doeth nothing.
8. Now go, write it before them on a tablet, and record it in a book, that it may be for the time to come, as a witness for ever,
9. that this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of Jehovah;
10. who 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. Therefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel: Because ye reject this word, and confide in oppression and wilfulness, and depend thereon,
13. therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a towering wall, whose breaking shall come suddenly in an instant.