1. On the twelfth day of the tenth month of the tenth year of exile, the word of the Lord came to me. He said,
2. “Son of man, look toward Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Speak for me against him and Egypt.
3. Say, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: “‘I am against you, Pharaoh, king of Egypt. You are the great monster lying beside the Nile River. You say, “This is my river! I made this river!”
4-5. “‘But I will put hooks in your jaws. The fish in the Nile River will stick to your scales. I will pull you and your fish up out of your rivers and onto the dry land. You will fall on the ground, and no one will pick you up or bury you. I will give you to the wild animals and birds. You will be their food.
6. Then all the people living in Egypt will know that I am the Lord! “‘Why will I do these things? Because the people of Israel leaned on Egypt for support, but Egypt was only a weak blade of grass.
7. The people of Israel leaned on Egypt for support, but Egypt only pierced their hands and shoulder. They leaned on you for support, but you broke and twisted their back.’”
8. So this is what the Lord GOD says: “I will bring a sword against you. I will destroy all your people and animals.