First here, then there— you flit from one ally to another asking for help. But your new friends in Egypt will let you down, just as Assyria did before.

你为何东跑西奔要更换你的路呢？你必因埃及蒙羞，像从前因亚述蒙羞一样。

你为何东奔西跑改变你的道路呢？你必因埃及蒙羞，像从前因亚述蒙羞一样。

你为何东奔西跑改变你的道路呢？你必因埃及蒙羞，像从前因亚述蒙羞一样。

你们为什么这样忽东忽西地变来变去呢？你们投奔埃及必蒙羞辱，就像从前投奔亚述一样。

你为什么要东奔西跑，改变你的路向呢？你必因埃及蒙羞，像你从前因亚述受辱一样。

你為何東跑西奔要更換你的路呢？你必因埃及蒙羞，像從前因亞述蒙羞一樣。

你為何東奔西跑改變你的道路呢？你必因埃及蒙羞，像從前因亞述蒙羞一樣。

你為何東奔西跑改變你的道路呢？你必因埃及蒙羞，像從前因亞述蒙羞一樣。

你們為什麼這樣忽東忽西地變來變去呢？你們投奔埃及必蒙羞辱，就像從前投奔亞述一樣。

你為甚麼要東奔西跑，改變你的路向呢？你必因埃及蒙羞，像你從前因亞述受辱一樣。

你為甚麼這樣東奔西跑，要改變你的路呢？你必因埃及而蒙羞，像你因亞述而蒙羞一樣。

爾何奔馳、改易爾途、昔緣亞述而蒙羞、今於埃及、亦必蒙恥、

爾何肆志遨遊、重蹈故轍、昔爾維亞述是恃、而蒙愧恥、今爾惟埃及是賴、而抱羞慙。

爾何為往來甚速、更易爾途、爾恃伊及必致蒙羞、如昔恃亞述而致蒙羞、

Why do you go about so much, changing your ways? You will be disappointed by Egypt as you were by Assyria.

Why do you keep on changing your ways so much? Assyria did not help you. And Egypt will not help you either.

How much you go about, changing your way! You shall be put to shame by Egypt as you were put to shame by Assyria.

How unstable you are, constantly changing your ways! You will be put to shame by Egypt just as you were put to shame by Assyria.

Why do you go around so much Changing your way? Also, you will be put to shame by Egypt, Just as you were put to shame by Assyria.

Why do you gad about so much to change your way? Also you shall be ashamed of Egypt as you were ashamed of Assyria.

Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou shalt be ashamed of Egypt also, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.

How unstable you are, constantly changing your ways! You will be put to shame by Egypt just as you were put to shame by Assyria.

Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.

Why do you constantly go about changing your political allegiances? You will get no help from Egypt just as you got no help from Assyria.

Why do you go about so much to change your ways? You will be ashamed of Egypt also, as you were ashamed of Assyria.

How long will you wander, my wayward daughter? For the Lord will cause something new to happen— Israel will embrace her God.”

“ When Israel and Judah saw how sick they were, Israel turned to Assyria— to the great king there— but he could neither help nor cure them.

The people of Israel feed on the wind; they chase after the east wind all day long. They pile up lies and violence; they are making an alliance with Assyria while sending olive oil to buy support from Egypt.

So when King Tiglath pileser of Assyria arrived, he attacked Ahaz instead of helping him.Ahaz took valuable items from the Lord’s Temple, the royal palace, and from the homes of his officials and gave them to the king of Assyria as tribute. But this did not help him.

“ You say,‘ That’s not true! I haven’t worshiped the images of Baal!’ But how can you say that? Go and look in any valley in the land! Face the awful sins you have done. You are like a restless female camel desperately searching for a mate.

At that time King Ahaz of Judah asked the king of Assyria for help.

We looked in vain for our allies to come and save us, but we were looking to nations that could not help us.

“ This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: The king of Judah sent you to ask me what is going to happen. Tell him,‘ Pharaoh’s army is about to return to Egypt, though he came here to help you.

“ What sorrow awaits my rebellious children,” says the Lord.“ You make plans that are contrary to mine. You make alliances not directed by my Spirit, thus piling up your sins.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.For though his power extends to Zoan and his officials have arrived in Hanes,all who trust in him will be ashamed. He will not help you. Instead, he will disgrace you.”This message came to me concerning the animals in the Negev: The caravan moves slowly across the terrible desert to Egypt— donkeys weighed down with riches and camels loaded with treasure— all to pay for Egypt’s protection. They travel through the wilderness, a place of lionesses and lions, a place where vipers and poisonous snakes live. All this, and Egypt will give you nothing in return.Egypt’s promises are worthless! Therefore, I call her Rahab— the Harmless Dragon.

“ The people of Israel have become like silly, witless doves, first calling to Egypt, then flying to Assyria for help.

Then the Philistines will be thrown into panic, for they counted on the power of Ethiopia and boasted of their allies in Egypt!

We submitted to Egypt and Assyria to get enough food to survive.

“ How you plot and scheme to win your lovers. Even an experienced prostitute could learn from you!

When Israel leaned on you, you splintered and broke and stabbed her in the armpit. When she put her weight on you, you collapsed, and her legs gave way.

Assyria cannot save us, nor can our warhorses. Never again will we say to the idols we have made,‘ You are our gods.’ No, in you alone do the orphans find mercy.”

“ What have you gained by your alliances with Egypt and your covenants with Assyria? What good to you are the streams of the Nile or the waters of the Euphrates River?

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.In his wisdom, the Lord will send great disaster; he will not change his mind. He will rise against the wicked and against their helpers.For these Egyptians are mere humans, not God! Their horses are puny flesh, not mighty spirits! When the Lord raises his fist against them, those who help will stumble, and those being helped will fall. They will all fall down and die together.

This idol will be carted away to Assyria, a gift to the great king there. Ephraim will be ridiculed and Israel will be shamed, because its people have trusted in this idol.