5. The waters of the sea will dry up,and the river will be parched and dry.
6. The channels will stink;they will dwindle, and Egypt’s canals will be parched.Reed and rush will die.
7. The reeds by the Nile, by the mouth of the river,and all the cultivated areas of the Nilewill wither, blow away, and vanish.
8. Then the fishermen will mourn.All those who cast hooks into the Nile will lament,and those who spread nets on the water will shrivel up.
9. Those who work with flax will be dismayed; the combers and weavers will turn pale.
10. Egypt’s weavers will be dejected;all her wage earners will be demoralized.
11. The princes of Zoan are complete fools; Pharaoh’s wisest advisers give stupid advice!How can you say to Pharaoh,“I am one of the wise,a student of eastern kings”?
12. Where then are your wise men?Let them tell you and revealwhat the Lord of Hosts has planned against Egypt.
13. The princes of Zoan have been fools;the princes of Memphis are deceived. Her tribal chieftains have led Egypt astray.
14. The Lord has mixed within her a spirit of confusion.The leaders have made Egypt stagger in all she does,as a drunkard staggers in his vomit.
15. No head or tail, palm or reed, will be able to do anything for Egypt.
16. On that day Egypt will be like women. She will tremble with fear because of the threatening hand of the Lord of Hosts when He raises it against her.
17. The land of Judah will terrify Egypt; whenever Judah is mentioned, Egypt will tremble because of what the Lord of Hosts has planned against it.
18. On that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear loyalty to the Lord of Hosts. One of the cities will be called the City of the Sun.