Listen, Ethiopia— land of fluttering sails that lies at the headwaters of the Nile,

唉！古实河外翅膀刷刷响声之地，

祸哉！古实河的那一边、翅膀刷刷作响之地，

祸哉！古实河的那一边、翅膀刷刷作响之地，

古实河那边、翅膀刷刷作响之地有祸了！

古实河外，船只彼此碰撞，响声四起之地，有祸了！

祸哉！库实河流对岸，翅膀嗡嗡作响之地！

唉！古實河外翅膀刷刷響聲之地，

禍哉！古實河的那一邊、翅膀刷刷作響之地，

禍哉！古實河的那一邊、翅膀刷刷作響之地，

古實河那邊、翅膀刷刷作響之地有禍了！

古實河外，船隻彼此碰撞，響聲四起之地，有禍了！

啊，古實河外飛蝗翅膀刷刷響之地，

禍哉！庫實河流對岸，翅膀嗡嗡作響之地！

噫、古實河外、鼓翼薨薨之地、

古實河外、左翼右翼之軍、器械錚鏦矣、吾有言告爾、

噫、沿古實河之國、兩翼軍旅器械、錚錚有聲、原文作古實河外翼鳴之國

Woe to the land of whirring wings along the rivers of Cush,

How terrible it will be for the land whose armies are like large numbers of flying insects! That land is along the rivers of Cush.

Ah, land of whirring wings that is beyond the rivers of Cush,

Woe to the land of buzzing insect wings beyond the rivers of Cush,

Woe, land of whirring wings Which lies beyond the rivers of Cush,

Woe to the land shadowed with buzzing wings, Which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia,

Ah, the land of the rustling of wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia;

Ah! The land of buzzing insect wings beyond the rivers of Cush

Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which[ is] beyond the rivers of Ethiopia:

The land of buzzing wings is as good as dead, the one beyond the rivers of Cush,

Ah, the land of the rustling of wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia;

My scattered people who live beyond the rivers of Ethiopia will come to present their offerings.

“ You Ethiopians will also be slaughtered by my sword,” says the Lord.

Soon afterward King Sennacherib received word that King Tirhakah of Ethiopia was leading an army to fight against him. Before leaving to meet the attack, he sent messengers back to Hezekiah in Jerusalem with this message:

A sword will come against Egypt, and those who are slaughtered will cover the ground. Its wealth will be carried away and its foundations destroyed. The land of Ethiopia will be ravished.Ethiopia, Libya, Lydia, all Arabia, and all their other allies will be destroyed in that war.

Then the Lord said,“ My servant Isaiah has been walking around naked and barefoot for the last three years. This is a sign— a symbol of the terrible troubles I will bring upon Egypt and Ethiopia.For the king of Assyria will take away the Egyptians and Ethiopians as prisoners. He will make them walk naked and barefoot, both young and old, their buttocks bared, to the shame of Egypt.Then the Philistines will be thrown into panic, for they counted on the power of Ethiopia and boasted of their allies in Egypt!They will say,‘ If this can happen to Egypt, what chance do we have? We were counting on Egypt to protect us from the king of Assyria.’”

For without consulting me, you have gone down to Egypt for help. You have put your trust in Pharaoh’s protection. You have tried to hide in his shade.But by trusting Pharaoh, you will be humiliated, and by depending on him, you will be disgraced.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to you for protection. I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until the danger passes by.

What sorrow awaits those who look to Egypt for help, trusting their horses, chariots, and charioteers and depending on the strength of human armies instead of looking to the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.

Guard me as you would guard your own eyes. Hide me in the shadow of your wings.

“ O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.

Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.

He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings.

At that time I will send swift messengers in ships to terrify the complacent Ethiopians. Great panic will come upon them on that day of Egypt’s certain destruction. Watch for it! It is sure to come!

Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings! Interlude

May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.”