4. I will deliver Egyptinto the power of a cruel master,A harsh king who shall rule over them—oracle of the Lord, the Lord of hosts.
5. The waters shall be drained from the sea,the river shall parch and dry up;
6. Its streams shall become foul,and the canals of Egypt shall dwindle and parch.Reeds and rushes shall wither away,
7. and bulrushes on the bank of the Nile;All the sown land along the Nileshall dry up and blow away, and be no more.
8. The fishermen shall mourn and lament,all who cast hook in the Nile;Those who spread their nets in the watershall pine away.
9. The linen-workers shall be disappointed,the combers and weavers shall turn pale;
10. The spinners shall be crushed,all the hired laborers shall be despondent.
11. Utter fools are the princes of Zoan!the wisest of Pharaoh’s advisers give stupid counsel.How can you say to Pharaoh,“I am a descendant of wise men, of ancient kings”?
12. Where then are your wise men?Let them tell you and make knownWhat the Lord of hosts has plannedagainst Egypt.
13. The princes of Zoan have become fools,the princes of Memphis have been deceived.The chiefs of its tribeshave led Egypt astray.