1. This is the divine revelation about Egypt.The Lord is riding on a fast-moving cloud and is coming to Egypt.Egypt’s idols will tremble in his presence.Egypt’s courage will fail.
2. “I will turn one Egyptian against another.They will fight—brother against brother,neighbor against neighbor,city against city,kingdom against kingdom.
3. The Egyptians will lose courage.I will unravel their plans.They will turn to idols, ghosts,mediums, and fortunetellers.
4. I will hand over the Egyptians to a harsh master.A strong king will rule them,”declares the Almighty Lord of Armies.
5. The water in the Nile River will be dried up,and the river will be dry and empty.
6. The canals will stink.Egypt’s streams will be emptied and dried up.The reeds and cattails will wither.
7. The rushes by the Nile, by the edge of the Nile,and all the fields planted beside the Nilewill dry up, be blown away, and disappear.
8. Fishermen will cry.All who cast their lines into the Nile will mourn.Those who spread their nets on the water will sigh.
9. Linenworkers and weavers will be ashamed.
10. Egypt’s weavers will be crushed.Those who work for money will be distressed.
11. The leaders of Zoan are nothing but fools.The wisest of Pharaoh’s counselors gives stupid advice.How can you tell Pharaoh,“I’m a descendant of wise men,a descendant of ancient kings”?
12. Where are your wise men now?Let them tell you.Let them explain what the Lord of Armiesis planning against Egypt.
13. The leaders of Zoan are acting foolishly.The leaders of Memphis are led astray.The leaders who are the cornerstones of its tribes mislead the Egyptians.
14. The Lord mixes up their minds.So they lead the Egyptians astraylike a drunk who staggers in his vomit.
15. No one—leaders or followers, important or unimportant—can do anything for Egypt.
16. At that time Egyptians will act like women. They will tremble and be terrified because the Lord of Armies will shake his fist at them.