1An oracle concerning Egypt. Behold, the LORD rides upon a swift cloud and comes to Egypt. The idols of Egypt shake before him, and the heart of Egypt melts within him.2I will stir up Egypt against Egypt, and they will fight, each against his brother and each against his neighbor, city against city and kingdom against kingdom.3The spirit of Egypt will be emptied within him, and I will swallow up his counsel. They will seek the idols, the mutterers, the mediums, and the spiritists.4I will stop Egypt by the hand of a severe lord, and a strong king will rule over them, declares the LORD of Hosts.5The waters will wither from the sea, and the river will dry up and be dry.6The rivers will stink; they languish and dry up. The branches of the Nile of Egypt and the Red Sea decay.7Bulrush lies upon the Nile, upon the lip of the Nile, and all the sowing of the Nile withers, driven away, and nothing remains of it.8The fishers will lament, and all who cast a hook into the Nile and spread nets upon the face of the water will mourn; they will be weakened.9The workers of combed flax will be ashamed, and those who weave white cloth.10Its foundations will be crushed; all who make hire will be grieved in soul.11Surely the rulers of Zoan are foolish. The wise counselors of Pharaoh give brutish counsel. How can you say to Pharaoh, 'I am a son of wise men, a son of kings of the East'?12Where then are your wise men? Let them tell you, please, and let them know what the LORD of Hosts has advised concerning Egypt.13The rulers of Zoan have become foolish; the rulers of Memphis have been deceived; they have led Egypt astray, the Corner of its tribes.14The LORD has mixed a spirit of distortion within her, and they have led Egypt astray in all his work, like a drunken man going astray in his vomit.15Egypt will have no work that he performs, whether head or tail, branch or bulrush.16In that day Egypt will become like women and will tremble and dread before the wave offering of the hand of the LORD of Hosts that he waves over him.17The land of Judah will become a terror to Egypt; everyone who remembers her will dread before the counsel of the LORD of Hosts that he advises concerning him.18In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the LORD of Hosts; one will be called the city of Destruction.19In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt and a pillar to the LORD beside its border.20It will serve as a sign and a witness to the LORD of Hosts in the land of Egypt, because they will cry to the LORD from before oppressors, and he will send them a savior and many others and rescue them.21The LORD will be known to Egypt, and Egypt will know the LORD in that day. They will serve with sacrifice and offering and will vow to the LORD and fulfill it.22The LORD will strike Egypt, striking and healing, and they will return to the LORD; he will hear their prayer and heal them.23In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. Assyria will enter Egypt, and Egypt will enter Assyria, and Egypt will serve with Assyria.24In that day Israel will be third with Egypt and with Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the land.25The LORD of Hosts has blessed them, saying, 'Blessed be my people Egypt, the work of my hands Assyria, and my inheritance Israel.'