Ben-Hadad sent to him, and said, The gods do so to me, and more also, if the dust of Shomron shall suffice for handfuls for all the people who follow me.
Now, behold, you trust on the staff of this bruised reed, even on Egypt; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Par`oh king of Egypt to all who trust on him.
Now therefore, Please give pledges to my master the king of Ashur, and I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them.
*Woe to the rebellious children,* says the LORD, *who take counsel, but not from me; and who make an alliance, but not with my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin,
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, and trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but they don't look to the Holy One of Yisra'el, and they don't seek the LORD!
Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD stretches out his hand, both he who helps shall stumble, and he who is helped shall fall, and they all shall be consumed together.
Behold, you trust in the staff of this bruised reed, even in Egypt, which if a man leans on it, it will go into his hand and pierce it. So is Par`oh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.
Thus says the LORD, the God of Yisra'el, Thus shall you tell the king of Yehudah, who sent you to me to inquire of me: Behold, Par`oh's army, which is come forth to help you, shall return to Egypt into their own land.
But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape who does such things? shall he break the covenant, and yet escape?
Now I, Nevukhadnetzar 1, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; for all his works are truth, and his ways justice; and those who walk in pride he is able to abase.
Only he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he may multiply horses; because the LORD has said to you, You shall henceforth return no more that way.