13 The word that Yahweh spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the coming of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon to attack the land of Egypt:

14 “Declare in Egypt, and proclaim in Migdol,

and proclaim in Memphis and in Tahpanhes,

say, ‘Take your stand and be prepared,

for the sword will devour those all around you.’

15 Why are your bulls defeated?

He did not stand because Yahweh thrust him down.

16 He multiplied the onesd stumbling.

Furthermore, each one fell to his neighbor,

and said, ‘Stand up, and let us return to our people

and to the land of our birth,

⌊because of⌋e the ⌊presence⌋f of the sword of the oppressor.’

17 They will call there,

‘Pharaoh, the king of Egypt is but a roar,

⌊he missed the opportunity⌋.’g

18 ⌊As I live⌋,”h ⌊declares⌋i the king,

Yahweh of hosts is his name,

“one will come like Tabor among the mountains

and like Carmel by the sea.

19 Pack your baggage for exile,

O inhabitantsj of the daughter of Egypt,

for Memphis will become as a horror,

and it will be destroyed, ⌊without⌋k inhabitant.

20 Egypt is a beautiful heifer,

but a gadfly from the north will come against her.

21 Even her mercenaries in her midst are like calves of fattening,

for they also have turned away,

they have fled together.

They stand not,

for the day of their calamity has come upon them,

the time of their punishment.

22 Her sound is like a snake that glides away,

for they march in force.

And with axes they come to her

like those who chop trees.

23 They will cut down her forest,” ⌊declares⌋l Yahweh,

“for ⌊it is impenetrable⌋.m

Yes, they are more numerous than locusts,n

and ⌊they are without number⌋.o

24 The daughter of Egypt will be ashamed,

she will be given into the hand of the people of the north.”

25 Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, said, “Look, I am going to punish Amon of Thebes, and Pharaoh, and Egypt, and her gods, and her kings, even Pharaoh and those who trust in him. 26 And I will give them into the hand of the seekers of their lives,p and into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and into the hand of his troops. But ⌊afterward⌋q it will be inhabited, as in days of old,” ⌊declares⌋r Yahweh.