Isaiah 19:11

⁹ Moreover they that work in fine flax, and they that weave networks, shall be confounded.

¹⁰ And they shall be broken in the purposes thereof, all that make sluices and ponds for fish.

Surely the princes of Zoan are fools, the counsel of the wise counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?

¹² Where are they? where are thy wise men? and let them tell thee now, and let them know what the LORD of hosts hath purposed upon Egypt.

¹³ The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also seduced Egypt, even they that are the stay of the tribes thereof.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: The princes of Zoan are mere fools; Pharaoh’s wise counselors give senseless advice. How can you say to Pharaoh, “I am one of the wise, a son of eastern kings”?
KJV: Surely the princes of Zoan are fools, the counsel of the wise counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?
WEB: The princes of Zoan are utterly foolish. The counsel of the wisest counselors of Pharaoh has become stupid. How do you say to Pharaoh, “I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings”?
ASV: The princes of Zoan are utterly foolish; the counsel of the wisest counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?
DARBY: They are but fools, the princes of Zoan, the wise counsellors of Pharaoh: [their] counsel is become senseless. How say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?
BLB: Indeed the princes of Zoan [are] fools, the counsel [of] the wise counselors of Pharaoh has become dull. How can you⁺ say to Pharaoh, “A son of wise men, I [am] a son of kings [from] [times] before?

ÅB: Bare dårer er Soans høvdinger; de viseste blant Faraos rådgivere gir uforstandige råd. Hvordan kan dere si til Farao: Jeg er en ætling av vismenn, en ætling av fortidens konger?
OTB: Embetsmennene i Soan er bare dårer; de vise rådgiverne til farao gir meningsløse råd. Hvordan kan du si til farao: "Jeg er en av de vise, en disippel av gamle konger"?
B1930: Bare dårer er Soans høvdinger; de viseste blandt Faraos rådgivere gir uforstandige råd. Hvorledes kan I si til Farao: Jeg er en ætling av vismenn, en ætling av fortidens konger?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Numbers 13:22
And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)
Read in context
Isaiah 30:4
For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to Hanes.
Read in context
Psalms 78:43
How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan:
Read in context
Acts 7:22
And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.
Read in context
1 Kings 4:30
And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.
Read in context
Genesis 41:38–39
And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?
Read in context
Psalms 78:12
Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
Read in context
Proverbs 30:2
Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.
Read in context