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The Futility of Reliance on Egypt

30Oh, rebellious children, says the Lord,
who carry out a plan, but not mine;
who make an alliance, but against my will,
   adding sin to sin;
² who set out to go down to Egypt
   without asking for my counsel,
to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh,
   and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt;
³ Therefore the protection of Pharaoh shall become your shame,
   and the shelter in the shadow of Egypt your humiliation.
⁴ For though his officials are at Zoan
   and his envoys reach Hanes,
⁵ everyone comes to shame
   through a people that cannot profit them,
that brings neither help nor profit,
   but shame and disgrace.

6 An oracle concerning the animals of the Negeb.
Through a land of trouble and distress,
   of lioness and roaring^* lion,
   of viper and flying serpent,
they carry their riches on the backs of donkeys,
   and their treasures on the humps of camels,
   to a people that cannot profit them.
⁷ For Egypt’s help is worthless and empty,
   therefore I have called her,
   ‘Rahab who sits still.’^*