13. ‘ “Yet this is what the Sovereign Lord says: at the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the nations where they were scattered.
14. I will bring them back from captivity and return them to Upper Egypt, the land of their ancestry. There they will be a lowly kingdom.
15. It will be the lowliest of kingdoms and will never again exalt itself above the other nations. I will make it so weak that it will never again rule over the nations.
16. Egypt will no longer be a source of confidence for the people of Israel but will be a reminder of their sin in turning to her for help. Then they will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.” ’
17. In the twenty-seventh year, in the first month on the first day, the word of the Lord came to me:
18. ‘Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon drove his army in a hard campaign against Tyre; every head was rubbed bare and every shoulder made raw. Yet he and his army got no reward from the campaign he led against Tyre.
19. Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am going to give Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will carry off its wealth. He will loot and plunder the land as pay for his army.
20. I have given him Egypt as a reward for his efforts because he and his army did it for me, declares the Sovereign Lord.
21. ‘On that day I will make a horn grow for the Israelites, and I will open your mouth among them. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’