The Lord's Defense of Zion
Isaiah 31
The prophet again warns against trusting in Egypt's horses and chariots rather than the Holy One of Israel, declaring that such help is merely human and will fail. The Lord himself will defend Jerusalem as a lion guards its prey and as birds hover protectively, and the Assyrian will fall by no human sword.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonALAS! They went down to Egypt for help! They trusted in horses and chariots (for they have many and their cavalry is very numerous) and did not rely on the Holy One of Israel, nor did they ask the counsel of the Lord.
BrentonWoe to them that go down to Egypt for help, who trust in horses and chariots, for they are many; and in horses, which are a great multitude; and have not trusted in the Holy One of Israel, and have not sought the Lord.
GreekΟὐαὶ οἱ καταβαίνοντες εἰς Αἴγυπτον ἐπὶ βοήθειαν, οἱ ἐφʼ ἵπποις πεποιθότες καὶ ἐφʼ ἅρμασιν, ἔστι γὰρ πολλὰ, καὶ ἐφʼ ἵπποις πλῆθος σφόδρα· καὶ οὐκ ἦσαν πεποιθότες ἐπὶ τὸν ἅγιον τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ τὸν κύριον οὐκ ἐζήτησαν·
KJVWoe 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!
JPSWoe 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 exceeding mighty; But they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, Neither seek the LORD!
2
ThomsonTherefore He in His wisdom brought evils on them: and that His word may not be slighted, He will rise up against the houses of wicked men and against this hope of theirs which is vain—
BrentonTherefore he has wisely brought evils upon them, and his word shall not be frustrated; and he shall rise up against the houses of wicked men, and against their vain hope,
GreekΚαὶ αὐτὸς σοφῶς ἦγεν ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς κακά, καὶ ὁ λόγος αὐτοῦ οὐ μὴ ἀθετηθῇ, καὶ ἐπαναστήσεται ἐπʼ οἴκους ἀνθρώπων πονηρῶν, καὶ ἐπὶ τὴν ἐλπίδα αὐτῶν τὴν ματαίαν,
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3
Thomsonagainst an Egyptian—a man, not a god—against the flesh of horses in which there is no help. When the Lord shall lay His hand upon them, then shall these helpers fail and be all destroyed together.
Brentoneven an Egyptian, a man, and not God; the flesh of horses, and there is no help in them: but the Lord shall bring his hand upon them, and the helpers shall fail, and all shall perish together.
GreekΑἰγύπτιον, ἄνθρωπον καὶ οὐ Θεὸν, ἵππων σάρκας, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι βοήθεια· ὁ δὲ Κύριος ἐπάξει τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ ἐπʼ αὐτούς· καὶ κοπιάσουσιν οἱ βοηθοῦντες, καὶ ἅμα πάντες ἀπολοῦνται.
KJVNow the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together.
JPSNow the Egyptians are men, and not God, And their horses flesh, and not spirit; So when the LORD shall stretch out His hand, Both he that helpeth shall stumble, and he that is helped shall fall, And they all shall perish together.
4
ThomsonBecause the Lord hath thus said to me: As the lion or the young lion will roar over the prey which he hath taken; and will repeat his roaring over it, until the mountains are filled with his voice, and the multitude are subdued and terrified at his wrath: so will the Lord of Hosts descend to encamp on this mountain—on this Sion—on the summits thereof:
BrentonFor thus said the Lord to me, As a lion would roar, or a lion's whelp over prey which he has taken, and cry over it, until the mountains are filled with his voice, and the animals are awe-struck and tremble at the fierceness of his wrath: so the Lord of hosts shall descend to fight upon the mount Sion, even upon her mountains.
GreekὍτι οὕτως εἶπέ μοι Κύριος, ὃν τρόπον βοήσῃ ὁ λέων, ἢ ὁ σκύμνος ἐπὶ τῇ θήρᾳ ᾗ ἔλαβε, καὶ κεκράξῃ ἐπʼ αὐτῇ, ἕως ἂν ἐμπλησθῇ τὰ ὄρη τῆς φωνῆς αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἡττήθησαν, καὶ τὸ πλῆθος τοῦ θυμοῦ ἐπτοήθησαν, οὕτως καταβήσεται Κύριος σαβαὼθ ἐπιστρατεῦσαι ἐπὶ τὸ ὄρος τὸ Σιὼν, ἐπὶ τὰ ὄρη αὐτῆς.
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JPSFor thus saith the LORD unto me: Like as the lion, or the young lion, growling over his prey, Though a multitude of shepherds be called forth against him, Will not be dismayed at their voice, Nor abase himself for the noise of them; So will the LORD of hosts come down To fight upon mount Zion, and upon the hill thereof.
5
Thomsonas birds hover over their young, so will the Lord of Hosts protect Jerusalem; He will hover over it and spring forward, and will protect and save it.
BrentonAs birds flying, so shall the Lord of hosts defend; he shall defend Jerusalem, and he shall rescue, and save and deliver.
GreekὩς ὄρνεα πετόμενα, οὕτως ὑπερασπιεῖ Κύριος σαβαὼθ, ὑπὲρ Ἱερουσαλὴμ ὑπερασπιεῖ, καὶ ἐξελεῖται, καὶ περιποιήσεται, καὶ σώσει.
KJVAs birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.
JPSAs birds hovering, So will the LORD of hosts protect Jerusalem; He will deliver it as He protecteth it, He will rescue it as He passeth over.
6
ThomsonTherefore turn to Him, O children of Israel, who are taking deep and wicked counsel.
BrentonTurn, ye children of Israel, who devise a deep and sinful counsel.
GreekἘπιστράφητε οἱ τὴν βαθείαν βουλὴν βουλευόμενοι καὶ ἄνομον, υἱοὶ Ἰσραήλ.
KJVTurn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted.
JPSTurn ye unto Him Against whom ye have deeply rebelled, O children of Israel.
7
ThomsonBecause men will in that day reject the works of their hands—their idols of silver and gold which their hands have made,
BrentonFor in that day men shall renounce their silver idols and their golden idols, which their hands made.
GreekὍτι τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ἀπαρνήσονται οἱ ἄνθρωποι τὰ χειροποίητα αὐτῶν τὰ ἀργυρᾶ, καὶ τὰ χειροποίητα τὰ χρυσᾶ, ἃ ἐποίησαν αἱ χεῖρες αὐτῶν.
KJVFor in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you for a sin.
JPSFor in that day they shall cast away every man his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, Which your own hands have made unto you for a sin.
8
Thomsontherefore Assur shall fall—not by the sword of a man of valour, nor shall the sword of a mortal devour him; and he shall flee—(not from the face of the sword) and the young men shall be for destruction.
BrentonAnd the Assyrian shall fall: not the sword of a great man, nor the sword of a mean man shall devour him; neither shall he flee from the face of the sword: but the young men shall be overthrown:
GreekΚαὶ πεσεῖται Ασσούρ· οὐ μάχαιρα ἀνδρὸς, οὐδὲ μάχαιρα ἀνθρώπου καταφάγεται αὐτὸν, καὶ φεύξεται οὐκ ἀπὸ προσώπου μαχαίρας· οἱ δὲ νεανίσκοι ἔσονται εἰς ἥττημα,
KJVThen shall the Assyrian fall with the sword, not of a mighty man; and the sword, not of a mean man, shall devour him: but he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall be discomfited.
JPSThen shall Asshur fall with the sword, not of man, And the sword, not of men, shall devour him; And he shall flee from the sword, And his young men shall become tributary.
9
ThomsonFor with a rock they shall be enclosed as with a rampart, and shall be subdued; and he who fleeth shall be taken. Thus saith the Lord: Happy he who hath a seed in Sion and a family in Jerusalem.
Brentonfor they shall be compassed with rocks as with a trench, and shall be worsted; and he that flees shall be taken. Thus saith the Lord, Blessed is he that has a seed in Sion, and household friends in Jerusalem.
Greekπέτρᾳ γὰρ περιληφθήσονται ὡς χάρακι, καὶ ἡττηθήσονται, ὁ δὲ φεύγων ἁλώσεται· τάδε λέγει Κύριος, μακάριος ὃς ἔχει ἐν Σιὼν σπέρμα, καὶ οἰκείους ἐν Ἱερουσαλήμ.
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