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On that day people shall turn to their maker,
    their eyes shall look to the Holy One of Israel.(A)
They shall not turn to the altars, the work of their hands,
    nor shall they look to what their fingers have made:
    the asherahs[a] or the incense stands.

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Footnotes

  1. 17:8 Asherahs: see note on Ex 34:13. Incense stands: small altars on which incense was burned; cf. Is 27:9; Lv 26:30.

In that day(A) people will look(B) to their Maker(C)
    and turn their eyes to the Holy One(D) of Israel.
They will not look to the altars,(E)
    the work of their hands,(F)
and they will have no regard for the Asherah poles[a](G)
    and the incense altars their fingers(H) have made.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 17:8 That is, wooden symbols of the goddess Asherah

Chapter 31

Against the Egyptian Alliance

Ah! Those who go down to Egypt for help,
    who rely on horses;
Who put their trust in chariots because of their number,
    and in horsemen because of their combined power,
But look not to the Holy One of Israel
    nor seek the Lord![a](A)
Yet he too is wise and will bring disaster;
    he will not turn from his threats.
He will rise up against the house of the wicked
    and against those who help evildoers.(B)
The Egyptians are human beings, not God,
    their horses flesh, not spirit;
When the Lord stretches forth his hand,
    the helper shall stumble, the one helped shall fall,
    and both of them shall perish together.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. 31:1 Seek the Lord: a technical expression for seeking a prophetic or priestly oracle, similar to the expression “asking my counsel” in 30:2. The prophet complains that Judah has decided on its policy of alliance with Egypt without first consulting the Lord.

Woe to Those Who Rely on Egypt

31 Woe(A) to those who go down to Egypt(B) for help,
    who rely on horses,(C)
who trust in the multitude of their chariots(D)
    and in the great strength of their horsemen,
but do not look to the Holy One(E) of Israel,
    or seek help from the Lord.(F)
Yet he too is wise(G) and can bring disaster;(H)
    he does not take back his words.(I)
He will rise up against that wicked nation,(J)
    against those who help evildoers.
But the Egyptians(K) are mere mortals and not God;(L)
    their horses(M) are flesh and not spirit.
When the Lord stretches out his hand,(N)
    those who help will stumble,
    those who are helped(O) will fall;
    all will perish together.(P)

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