1. The Lord often told me what to say about the different nations of the world.
2. In the fourth year that Jehoiakim was king of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia defeated King Neco of Egypt in a battle at the city of Carchemish near the River Euphrates. And here is what the Lord told me to say about the Egyptian army:
3. It's time to go into battle!So grab your shields,
4. saddle your horses,and polish your spears.Put on your helmets and armour,then take your positions.
5. I can see the battle now—you are defeatedand running away,never once looking back.Terror is all around.
6. You are strong and run fast,but you can't escape.You fall in battlenear the River Euphrates.
7. What nation is this,that rises like the River Nileoverflowing its banks?
8. It is Egypt, rising with a roarlike a raging riverand saying,“I'll flood the earth,destroying cities, and killingeveryone in them.”
9. Go ahead, Egypt.Tell your chariots and cavalryto attack and fight hard.Order your troops to march out,with Ethiopians and Libyanscarrying shields,and the Lydians armed with bowsand arrows.
10. But the Lord All-Powerfulwill win this battleand take revengeon his enemies.His sword will eat themand drink their blooduntil it is full.They will be killed in the northnear the River Euphrates,as a sacrifice to the Lord.
11. Egypt, no medicine can heal you,not even the soothing lotionfrom Gilead.
12. All nations have heard you weep;you are disgraced,and they know it.Your troops fall to the ground,stumbling over each other.
13-14. When King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia was on his way to attack Egypt, the Lord sent me with a warning for every Egyptian town, but especially for Migdol, Memphis, and Tahpanhes. He said I must tell them:Prepare to defend yourselves!Everywhere in your nation,people are dying in war.
15. I have struck downyour mighty god Apisand chased him away.
16. Your soldiers stumbleover each otherand say, “Get up!The enemy will kill us,unless we can escapeto our own land.”
17. Give the king of Egyptthis new name,“Talks-Big-Does-Nothing”.
18. Egypt, I am the true king,the Lord All-Powerful,and as surely as I live,those enemies who attackwill tower over youlike Mount Tabor among the hillsor Mount Carmel by the sea.
19. You will be led away captive,so pack a few thingsto bring with you.Your capital, Memphis,will lie empty and in ruins.
20. An enemy from the northwill attack you, beautiful Egypt,like a fly biting a cow.
21. The foreign soldiers you hiredwill turn and run.But they are doomed,like well-fed calvesbeing led to the butcher.
22-23. The enemy army will go forwardlike a swarm of locusts.Your troops will feel helpless,like a snake in a forestwhen men with axesstart chopping down trees.It can only hissand try to escape.
24. Your people will be disgracedand captured by the enemyfrom the north.
25. I am the Lord All-Powerful, the God of Israel. Soon I will punish the god Amon of Thebes and the other Egyptian gods, the Egyptian kings, the people of Egypt, and everyone who trusts in the Egyptian power.
26. I will hand them over to King Nebuchadnezzar and his army. But I also promise that Egypt will some day have people living here again, just as it had before. I, the Lord, have spoken.
27. Israel, don't be afraid.Some day I will bring you homefrom foreign lands.You and your descendantswill live in peace and safety,with nothing to fear.
28. So don't be afraid,even though nowyou deserve to be punishedand have been scatteredamong other nations.But when I destroy them,I will protect you.I, the Lord, have spoken.