(This is) the word of the LORD about the nations — (the word) that came to Jeremiah - the prophet
concerning Egypt (and) 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 :
“ Deploy your shields, small and large ; advance for battle !
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 without looking 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.
Who is this , rising like the Nile , like rivers whose waters churn ?
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 vvv drawing the bow.
For that day (belongs) to the Lord GOD of Hosts , a day of vengeance against His foes. The sword will devour until it is satisfied , until it is quenched with their blood. For the Lord GOD of Hosts will hold a sacrifice in the land of the north by the River Euphrates.
Go up to Gilead (for) balm , O Virgin Daughter of Egypt ! In vain you try many remedies , there is no healing.
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 for the sword devours those around you. ’
Why have your warriors been laid low ? They cannot stand , for the LORD has thrust them down.
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 cry out : ‘ 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 , (there) will come one (who is) 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 vvv and uninhabited.
Egypt vvv is a beautiful heifer , but a gadfly from the north is coming against her ....
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 calamity is coming upon them — the time of their punishment.
Egypt will hiss like a fleeing serpent , for the enemy will advance in force ; with axes they will come 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 Daughter of Egypt will be put to shame ; she will be delivered into the hands of the people of the north. ”
The LORD of Hosts , the God of Israel , says : “ Behold , I am about to punish ... Amon (god) of Thebes , ... along with Pharaoh , - Egypt with her gods ... and kings ... , ... and those who trust in Pharaoh
I will deliver them into the hands of those who seek their lives ... — of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon ... and his officers. But after this , (Egypt) will be inhabited as in days of old , declares the LORD.
But you , O Jacob My servant , do not be afraid , and do not be dismayed , O Israel. For vvv I will surely save you out of a distant place , - your descendants from the land of their captivity ! Jacob will return to quiet and ease , with no one to make him afraid.
And you , My servant Jacob , do not be afraid , declares the LORD , for I am with you. Though I will completely destroy all the nations to which I have banished you ... - , I will not completely destroy you .... Yet I will discipline you justly , and will by no means leave you unpunished .... ”