Isaiah 31:1 - Forerunner Commentary

Isaiah 31:1

The Folly of Not Trusting God

1 Woe to those ^awho go down to Egypt for help,
And ^brely on horses,
Who trust in chariots because they are many,
And in horsemen because they are very strong,
But who do not look to the Holy One of Israel,
^cNor seek the Lord!

2 Yet He also is wise and will bring disaster,
And ^awill not call back His words,
But will arise against the house of evildoers,
And against the help of those who work iniquity.

3 Now the Egyptians are men, and not God;
And their horses are flesh, and not spirit.
When the Lord stretches out His hand,
Both he who helps will fall,
And he who is helped will fall down;
They all will perish ^atogether.

God Will Deliver Jerusalem

4 For thus the Lord has spoken to me:
^a“As a lion roars,
And a young lion over his prey
(When a multitude of shepherds is summoned against him,
He will not be afraid of their voice
Nor be disturbed by their noise),
So the Lord of hosts will come down
To fight for Mount Zion and for its hill.

5 ^aLike birds flying about,
So will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem.
Defending, He will also deliver it;
Passing over, He will preserve it.”

6 Return to Him against whom the children of Israel have ^adeeply revolted.

7 For in that day every man shall ^athrow away his idols of silver and his idols of gold—^bsin, which your own hands have made for yourselves.

Verse Comparison: Isaiah 31:1

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American Standard Version
Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, and trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek Jehovah!

Amplified® Bible
WOE TO those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses and trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but they look not to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek {and} consult the Lord!

Contemporary English Version
You are in for trouble if you go to Egypt for help, or if you depend on an army of chariots or a powerful cavalry. Instead you should depend on and trust the holy LORD God of Israel.

Darby English Version
Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help, and depend on horses, and confide in chariots because [they are] many, and in horsemen because they are very strong; and who look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek Jehovah!

Good News Bible
Those who go to Egypt for help are doomed! They are relying on Egypt's vast military strength---horses, chariots, and soldiers. But they do not rely on the LORD, the holy God of Israel, or ask him for help.

King James Version
Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!

New American Standard Bible
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help {And} rely on horses, And trust in chariots because they are many And in horsemen because they are very strong, But they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the LORD!

New International Version
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help,
who rely on horses,
who trust in the multitude of their chariots
and in the great strength of their horsemen,
but do not look to the Holy One of Israel,
or seek help from the LORD.

New King James Version
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help,
And rely on horses,
Who trust in chariots because they are many,
And in horsemen because they are very strong,
But who do not look to the Holy One of Israel,
Nor seek the LORD!

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help And rely on horses, And trust in chariots because they have many And in horsemen because they prove very strong, But they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the LORD!

Revised Standard Version
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the LORD!

Young's Literal Translation
Wo `to' those going down to Egypt for help, And on horses lean, And trust on chariots, because many, And on horsemen, because very strong, And have not looked on the Holy One of Israel, And Jehovah have not sought.

New English Translation
Those who go down to Egypt for help are as good as dead,¹ those who rely on war horses, and trust in Egypt’s many chariots² and in their many, many horsemen.³ But they do not rely on the Holy One of Israel⁴ and do not seek help from the Lord.

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Isaiah 31:2 >>