For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still.
For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose - Hebrew, 'The Egyptians are vanity, and to no purpose will they help' (Calvin).
Therefore have I cried concerning this (this purpose of theirs to send to Egypt for help: or else the Hebrew, laazo't (H2063 ), is to her), their strength (is) to sit still. "Strength" - Hebrew, raahaab (H7293): since this is a designation of Egypt (Isaiah 51:9; Psalms 87:4), implying her haughty fierceness. DeDieu translates, 'Therefore I called her Arrogance that sitteth still.' Raahaab (H7293) heem (H1992) shaabet (H7674) - literally, 'Rabab, they (are) stillness:' Proud Egypt - i:e., its inhabitants sit still. She who boasted of the help she would give, when it came to the test, sat still (Isaiah 36:6). The English version agrees with Isaiah 30:15 and Isaiah 7:4. The Vulgate, Syriac, and apparently the Septuagint and Arabic, support it-literally, '(It is) strength for them to sit still.'