Jeremiah 46:13–26

¹³Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylonia, was coming to attack Egypt. Here is the message the Lord spoke to me about it. He said,

¹⁴“Egyptians, here is what I want you to announce in your land.

Announce it in Migdol.

Also announce it in Memphis and Tahpanhes.

Say, ‘Take up your battle positions! Get ready!

The sword eats up those who are around you.’

¹⁵Why are your soldiers lying on the ground?

They can’t stand, because I bring them down.

¹⁶They will trip again and again.

They will fall over one another.

They will say, ‘Get up. Let’s go back home.

Let’s return to our own people and our own lands.

Let’s get away from the swords

that will bring us great harm.’

¹⁷The Egyptian soldiers will cry out,

‘Pharaoh is our king. But he’s only a loud noise.

He has missed his chance to win the battle.’

¹⁸“I am the King.

My name is The Lord Who Rules Over All.

Someone will come who is like Mount Tabor among the mountains.

He is like Mount Carmel by the Mediterranean Sea.

And that is just as sure as I am alive,”

announces the King.

¹⁹“So pack your belongings, you who live in Egypt.

You will be taken away from your land.

Memphis will be completely destroyed.

Its buildings will be broken down.

No one will live there.

²⁰“Egypt is like a beautiful young cow.

But Nebuchadnezzar is coming against her from the north.

He will bite her like a fly.

²¹Hired soldiers are in Egypt’s army.

They are like fat calves.

All of them will turn and run away.

They will not hold their positions.

The day of trouble is coming on them.

The time for them to be punished is near.

²²The Egyptians will hiss like a snake that is trying to get away.

A powerful army will advance against them.

Their enemies will come against them with axes.

They will be like those who cut down trees.

²³Egypt is like a thick forest.

But they will chop it down,”

announces the Lord.

“There are more of them than there are locusts.

In fact, they can’t even be counted.

²⁴The nation of Egypt will be put to shame.

It will be handed over to the people of the north.”

²⁵The Lord who rules over all is the God of Israel. He says, “I am about to punish Amon, the god of Thebes. I will also punish Pharaoh. I will punish Egypt and its gods and kings. And I will punish those who depend on Pharaoh. ²⁶I will hand them over to those who are trying to kill them. I will give them to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylonia, and his officers. But later, many people will live in Egypt again as in times past,” announces the Lord.