CHAPTER 46
To Egypt,
concerning the army
of Pharaoh Neco
king
of Egypt,
which
was defeated
at Carchemish
on
the Euphrates
River
by Nebuchadnezzar
king
of Babylon
in the fourth
year
of Jehoiakim
the son
of Josiah
king
of Judah:
Harness
the horses;
mount
the steeds;
take your positions
with helmets on!
Polish
your spears;
put on
armor!
Why
am I seeing this?
They
are terrified,
they are retreating,
their warriors
are defeated,
they flee
in haste,
they never
look back,
terror
is on every side!
declares
the LORD.
The swift
cannot
flee,
and the warrior
cannot
escape!
In the north
by
the River
Euphrates
they stumble
and fall.
Egypt
rises
like the Nile,
and its waters
churn
like rivers,
boasting,
“I will rise
and cover
the earth;
I will destroy
the cities
and their people.”
Advance,
O horses!
Race furiously,
O chariots!
Let the warriors
come forth—
Cush
and Put
carrying
their shields,
men of Lydia
drawing
the bow.
That
day
belongs to the Lord,
the GOD
of Hosts,
a day
of vengeance
to avenge Himself
against His foes.
The sword
will devour
until it is satisfied,
until it is quenched
with their blood.
For
it will be a sacrifice
to the Lord,
the GOD
of Hosts,
in the land
of the north
by
the River
Euphrates.
Go up
to Gilead
for
balm,
O Virgin
Daughter
of Egypt!
In vain
you multiply
remedies;
there is no
healing for you.
The nations
have heard
of your shame,
and your outcry
fills
the earth,
because
warrior
stumbles
over warrior
and both
of them have fallen
together.”
This is the word
that
the LORD
spoke
to
Jeremiah
the prophet
about the coming
of Nebuchadnezzar
king
of Babylon
to strike
the land
of Egypt:
“Announce it
in Egypt,
and proclaim
it in Migdol;
proclaim
it in Memphis
and Tahpanhes:
‘Take your positions
and prepare
yourself,
for
the sword
devours
those around you.’
They continue
to stumble.
Indeed,
they
have fallen
over
one another.
They say,
‘Get up!
Let us return
to
our people
and to
the land
of our birth,
away from
the sword
of the oppressor.’
There
they will proclaim,
‘Pharaoh
king
of Egypt
was all noise;
he has let the appointed time
pass him by.’
As surely as I
live,
declares
the King,
whose name
is the LORD
of Hosts,
will come one
like Tabor
among the mountains
and like Carmel
by the sea.
Pack
your bags
for exile,
O daughter
dwelling
in Egypt!
For
Memphis
will be
laid waste,
destroyed
and uninhabited.
Even
the mercenaries
among her
are like fattened
calves.
They
too
will turn back;
together
they will flee;
they will not
stand their ground,
for
the day
of their calamity
is coming
upon them—
the time
of their punishment.
Egypt will hiss
like a slithering
snake,
for
the enemy will advance
in force;
with axes
they will come
against her
like woodsmen cutting down trees.
They will chop down
her forest,
declares
the LORD,
dense
though
it may be,
for
they are more numerous
than locusts;
they cannot
be counted.
The LORD
of Hosts,
the God
of Israel,
says:
“Behold,
I am about to punish
Amon
god of Thebes,
along with Pharaoh,
Egypt
and
her gods
and kings,
and those who trust
in Pharaoh.
I will hand them over to
those who seek
their lives—
to Nebuchadnezzar
king
of Babylon
and his officers.
But after
this,
Egypt will be inhabited
again as in ancient
times,
declares
the LORD.
But you,
O Jacob
My servant,
do not
be afraid,
and do not
be dismayed,
O Israel,
for
surely
I will save you
from a distant place,
and
your descendants
from the land
of their captivity!
Jacob
will return
and be undisturbed
and secure,
with no
one to make him afraid.
And you,
My servant
Jacob,
do not
be afraid,
declares
the LORD,
for
I
will be with you.
I will bring
destruction
on all
the nations
to which
I have banished you,
but I will not
make
a full end of you.
I will discipline you,
but with justice;
I will by no means
leave you unpunished."