A reading from the book of Isaiah.

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots

because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the

Holy One of Israel or consult the Lord. And yet he is wise and brings disaster. He does not

call back his words, but will arise against the house of the evildoers and against the helpers

of those who work iniquity. The Egyptians are man and not God, and their horses are flesh and not spirit.

When the Lord stretches out his hand, the helper will stumble, and he who is helped will fall,

and they will all perish together.

For thus the Lord said to me, as a lion or a young lion growls over his prey, and when a band of shepherds

is called out against him, he is not terrified by their shouting or daunted at their noise.

So the Lord of hosts will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its hill.

Like birds hovering, so the Lord of hosts will protect Jerusalem.

He will protect and deliver it.

He will spare and rescue it.

Turn to him from whom people have deeply revolted,

O children of Israel.

For in that day, everyone shall cast away his idols of silver and his idols

of gold, which your hands have sinfully made for you.

And the Assyrian shall fall by a sword not of man, and a sword not of man shall devour

him, and he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall be put

to forced labor, his rock shall pass away in terror, and his officers desert the standard in panic,

declares the Lord, whose fire is in Zion, and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.

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