1. This is the Lord's message for his rebellious people:“You follow your own plansinstead of mine;you make treatieswithout asking me,and you keep on sinning.
2. You trust Egypt for protection.So you refuse my adviceand send messengers to Egyptto beg their king for help.
3. “You will be disappointed,completely disgracedfor trusting Egypt.
4. The king's power reachesfrom the city of Zoanas far south as Hanes.
5. But Egypt can't protect you,and to trust that nationis useless and foolish.”
6. This is a messageabout the animalsof the Southern Desert:you people carry treasureson donkeys and camels.You travel to a feeble nationthrough a troublesome desertfilled with lionsand flying fiery dragons.
7. Egypt can't help you!That's why I call that nationa helpless monster.
8. The Lord told me to write down his message for his people, so that it would be there for ever.
9. They have turned against the Lord and can't be trusted. They have refused his teaching
10. and have said to his messengers and prophets:Don't tell us what God has shown you and don't preach the truth. Just say what we want to hear, even if it's false.
11. Stop telling us what God has said! We don't want to hear any more about the holy God of Israel.
12. Now this is the answerof the holy God of Israel:“You rejected my message,and you trust in violenceand lies.
13. This sin is like a crackthat makes a high wallquickly crumble