Jeremiah 46:13–26

¹³This is the word the Lord spoke to the prophet Jeremiah about the coming of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon to defeat the land of Egypt:^t

¹⁴Announce it in Egypt, and proclaim it in Migdol!^u

Proclaim it in Memphis and in Tahpanhes!

Say, “Take positions! Prepare yourself,

for the sword devours all around you.”^v

¹⁵Why have your strong ones been swept away?

Each has not stood,

for the Lord has thrust him down.

¹⁶He continues to stumble.^w

Indeed, each falls over the other.

They say, “Get up! Let’s return to our people

and to our native land,

away from the oppressor’s sword.”^x

¹⁷There they will cry out,

“Pharaoh king of Egypt was all noise;

he let the opportune moment pass.”

¹⁸As I live—

this is the King’s declaration;

the Lord of Armies is his name^y —

the king of Babylon^A will come like Tabor among the mountains

and like Carmel by the sea.

¹⁹Get your bags ready for exile,

inhabitant of Daughter Egypt!^a

For Memphis will become a desolation,

uninhabited ruins.

²⁰Egypt is a beautiful young cow,^b

but a horsefly from the north is coming against her.^Bc

²¹Even her mercenaries among her

are like stall-fed calves.

They too will turn back;

together they will flee;

they will not take their stand,

for the day of their calamity is coming on them,

the time of their punishment.^d

²²Egypt will hiss like a slithering snake,^C

for the enemy will come with an army;

with axes they will come against her

like those who cut trees.^e

²³They will cut down her forest—

this is the Lord’s declaration—

though it is dense,

for they are more numerous than locusts;

they cannot be counted.^f

²⁴Daughter Egypt will be put to shame,

handed over to a northern people.^g

²⁵The Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says, “I am about to punish Amon, god of Thebes,^h along with Pharaoh, Egypt, her gods, and her kings—Pharaoh and those trusting in him. ²⁶I will hand them over to those who intend to take their livesⁱ —to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and his officers. But after this,^j Egypt^A will be inhabited again as in ancient times.”

This is the Lord’s declaration.