1. The Lord spoke his word to me, saying:
2. “Human, prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Lord God says:Cry and say,“The terrible day is coming.”
3. The day is near;the Lord’s day of judging is near.It is a cloudy dayand a time when the nations will be judged.
4. An enemy will attack Egypt,and Cush will tremble with fear.When the killing begins in Egypt,her wealth will be taken away,and her foundations will be torn down.
5. Cush, Put, Lydia, Arabia, Libya, and some of my people who had made an agreement with Egypt will fall dead in war.
6. “ ‘This is what the Lord says:Those who fight on Egypt’s side will fall.The power she is proud of will be lost.The people in Egypt will fall dead in warfrom Migdol in the north to Aswan in the south,says the Lord God.
7. They will be the most deserted lands.Egypt’s cities will be the worst of cities that lie in ruins.
8. Then they will know that I am the Lordwhen I set fire to Egyptand when all those nations on her side are crushed.
9. “ ‘At that time I will send messengers in ships to frighten Cush, which now feels safe. The people of Cush will tremble with fear when Egypt is punished. And that time is sure to come.
10. “ ‘This is what the Lord God says:I will destroy great numbers of people in Egyptthrough the power of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
11. Nebuchadnezzar and his army,the cruelest army of any nation,will be brought in to destroy the land.They will pull out their swords against Egyptand will fill the land with those they kill.
12. I will make the streams of the Nile River become dry land,and then I will sell the land to evil people.I will destroy the land and everything in itthrough the power of foreigners.I, the Lord, have spoken.
13. “ ‘This is what the Lord God says:I will destroy the idolsand take away the statues of gods from the city of Memphis.There will no longer be a leader in Egypt,and I will spread fear through the land of Egypt.
14. I will make southern Egypt emptyand start a fire in Zoanand punish Thebes.