Judgment on Egypt

46 The word of the Lord which came to Jeremiah the prophet against athe nations. 2 Against bEgypt.

cConcerning the army of Pharaoh Necho, king of Egypt, which was by the River Euphrates in Carchemish, and which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon ddefeated in the efourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah:

3 “Order 1the 2buckler and shield,

And draw near to battle!

4 Harness the horses,

And mount up, you horsemen!

Stand forth with your helmets,

Polish the spears,

fPut on the armor!

5 Why have I seen them dismayed and turned back?

Their mighty ones are beaten down;

They have speedily fled,

And did not look back,

For gfear was all around,” says the Lord.

6 “Do not let the swift flee away,

Nor the mighty man escape;

They will hstumble and fall

Toward the north, by the River Euphrates.

7 “Who is this coming up ilike a flood,

Whose waters move like the rivers?

8 Egypt rises up like a flood,

And its waters move like the rivers;

And he says, ‘I will go up and cover the earth,

I will destroy the city and its inhabitants.’

9 Come up, O horses, and rage, O chariots!

And let the mighty men come forth:

3The Ethiopians and 4the Libyans who handle the shield,

And the Lydians jwho handle and bend the bow.

10 For this is kthe day of the Lord God of hosts,

A day of vengeance,

That He may avenge Himself on His adversaries.

lThe sword shall devour;

It shall be 5satiated and made drunk with their blood;

For the Lord God of hosts mhas a sacrifice

In the north country by the River Euphrates.

11 “Go nup to Gilead and take balm,

oO virgin, the daughter of Egypt;

In vain you will use many medicines;

pYou shall not be cured.

12 The nations have heard of your qshame,

And your cry has filled the land;

For the mighty man has stumbled against the mighty;

They both have fallen together.”