1. The Lord said:
2. Ezekiel, son of man, tell the people of Egypt that I am saying:Cry out in despair,
3. because you will soonbe punished!That will be a timeof darkness and doomfor all nations.
4. Your own nation of Egyptwill be attacked,and Ethiopia will suffer.You will be killed in battle,and your land will be robbedand left in ruins.
5. Soldiers hired from Ethiopia, Libya, Lydia, Arabia, Kub, as well as from Israel, will die in that battle.
6. All your allies will be killed, and your proud strength will crumble. People will die from Migdol in the north to Aswan in the south. I, the Lord, have spoken.
7. Your nation of Egypt will be the most deserted place on earth, and its cities will lie in complete ruin.
8. I will set fire to your land, and anyone who defended your nation will die. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
9. On the same day I destroy Egypt, I will send messengers to the Ethiopians to announce their coming destruction. They think they are safe, but they will be terrified.
10. Your Egyptian army is very strong, but I will send King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia to completely defeat that army.
11. He and his cruel troops will invade and destroy your land and leave your dead bodies piled everywhere.
12. I will dry up the River Nile, then sell the land to evil buyers. I will send foreigners to turn your entire nation into a barren desert. I, the Lord, have spoken.
13. All the idols and images you Egyptians worship in the city of Memphis will be smashed. No one will be left to rule your nation, and terror will fill the land.