3. But hiding in Egypt will bring you only shame.Egypt’s protection will only disappoint you.
4. Your officers have gone to Zoan.Your messengers have gone to Hanes.
5. But they will be put to shame,because Egypt is useless to them.Egypt will give no help and be of no use.It will cause them only shame and embarrassment.”
6. This is the message about the animals in southern Judah:Southern Judah is a dangerous place.It is full of lions and lionesses,poisonous snakes and darting snakes.The messengers travel through there with their wealth on donkeys’ backs.They have put their treasure on the backs of camels.They carry them to a nation that cannot help them.
7. They go to Egypt whose help is useless.So I call that country Rahab the Do-Nothing.
8. Now write this on a sign for the people.Write this on a scroll.Write these things for the days to come.Write them so they will last forever.
9. These people are like children who lie and refuse to obey.They refuse to listen to the Lord’s teachings.
10. They tell the seers,“Don’t see any more visions!”They say to the prophets,“Don’t tell us the truth!Say things that will make us feel good.See only good things for us.
11. Stop blocking our path.Get out of our way.Stop telling usabout God, the Holy One of Israel.”
12. So this is what the Holy One of Israel says:“You people have refused to accept this message from the Lord.You depended on cruelty and lies to help you.
13. You are guilty of these things.So you are like a high wall with cracks in it.It will fall suddenly and break into small pieces.
14. You will be like a clay jar that breaks.It breaks into many pieces.Those pieces will be too smallto take coals from the fireor to get water from a well.”
15. This is what the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, says:“If you come back to me and trust me, you will be saved.If you will be calm and trust me, you will be strong.”But you don’t want to do that.
16. You say, “No, we need horses to run away on.”So you will run away on horses.You say, “We will ride away on fast horses.”So those who chase you will be fast.
17. One enemy will make threats,and 1,000 of your men will run away.Five enemies will make threats,and all of you will run from them.You will be left alone like a flagpole on a hilltop.You will be like a banner on a hill.