Jeremiah 46

A Message About Egypt

This is the word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations:^a

Concerning Egypt:^b

This is the message against the army of Pharaoh Necho^c king of Egypt, which was defeated at Carchemish^d on the Euphrates^e River by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon in the fourth year of Jehoiakim^f son of Josiah king of Judah:

“Prepare your shields,^g both large and small,

and march out for battle!

Harness the horses,

mount the steeds!

Take your positions

with helmets on!

Polish^h your spears,

put on your armor!ⁱ

What do I see?

They are terrified,

they are retreating,

their warriors are defeated.

They flee^j in haste

without looking back,

and there is terror^k on every side,”

declares the Lord.

“The swift cannot flee^l

nor the strong escape.

In the north by the River Euphrates^m

they stumble and fall.ⁿ

“Who is this that rises like the Nile,

like rivers of surging waters?^o

Egypt rises like the Nile,^p

like rivers of surging waters.

She says, ‘I will rise and cover the earth;

I will destroy cities and their people.’^q

Charge, you horses!

Drive furiously, you charioteers!^r

March on, you warriors—men of Cush^s and Put who carry shields,

men of Lydia^t who draw the bow.

But that day^u belongs to the Lord, the Lord Almighty—

a day of vengeance^v, for vengeance on his foes.

The sword will devour^w till it is satisfied,

till it has quenched its thirst with blood.^x

For the Lord, the Lord Almighty, will offer sacrifice^y

in the land of the north by the River Euphrates.^z

“Go up to Gilead and get balm,^a

Virgin^b Daughter Egypt.

But you multiply remedies in vain;

there is no healing^c for you.

The nations will hear of your shame;

your cries will fill the earth.

One warrior will stumble over another;

both will fall^d down together.”

This is the message the Lord spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the coming of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon^e to attack Egypt:^f

“Announce this in Egypt, and proclaim it in Migdol;

proclaim it also in Memphis^g and Tahpanhes:^h

‘Take your positions and get ready,

for the sword devoursⁱ those around you.’

Why will your warriors be laid low?

They cannot stand, for the Lord will push them down.^j

They will stumble^k repeatedly;

they will fall^l over each other.

They will say, ‘Get up, let us go back

to our own people^m and our native lands,

away from the sword of the oppressor.’ⁿ

There they will exclaim,

‘Pharaoh king of Egypt is only a loud noise;^o

he has missed his opportunity.^p’

“As surely as I live,” declares the King,^q

whose name is the Lord Almighty,

“one will come who is like Tabor^r among the mountains,

like Carmel^s by the sea.

Pack your belongings for exile,^t

you who live in Egypt,

for Memphis^u will be laid waste^v

and lie in ruins without inhabitant.

“Egypt is a beautiful heifer,

but a gadfly is coming

against her from the north.^w

The mercenaries^x in her ranks

are like fattened calves.^y

They too will turn and flee^z together,

they will not stand their ground,

for the day^a of disaster is coming upon them,

the time^b for them to be punished.

Egypt will hiss like a fleeing serpent

as the enemy advances in force;

they will come against her with axes,

like those who cut down trees.^c

They will chop down her forest,”

declares the Lord,

“dense though it be.

They are more numerous than locusts,^d

they cannot be counted.

Daughter Egypt will be put to shame,

given into the hands of the people of the north.^e”

The Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “I am about to bring punishment on Amon god of Thebes,^f on Pharaoh,^g on Egypt and her gods^h and her kings, and on those who relyⁱ on Pharaoh. I will give them into the hands^j of those who seek their lives—Nebuchadnezzar king^k of Babylon and his officers. Later, however, Egypt will be inhabited^l as in times past,” declares the Lord.

“Do not be afraid,^m Jacobⁿ my servant;^o

do not be dismayed, Israel.

I will surely save you out of a distant place,

your descendants from the land of their exile.^p

Jacob will again have peace and security,

and no one will make him afraid.

Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant,

for I am with you,”^q declares the Lord.

“Though I completely destroy^r all the nations

among which I scatter you,

I will not completely destroy you.

I will discipline you but only in due measure;

I will not let you go entirely unpunished.”