6. “‘“All the inhabitants of Egypt will know that I am the Lord, because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel.
7. When they took hold of you by your hand, you broke, and tore all their shoulders. When they leaned on you, you broke, and paralyzed all of their thighs.”
8. “‘Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I will bring a sword on you, and will cut off man and animal from you.
9. The land of Egypt will be a desolation and a waste. Then they will know that I am the Lord.“‘“Because he has said, ‘The river is mine, and I have made it;’
10. therefore, behold, I am against you, and against your rivers. I will make the land of Egypt an utter waste and desolation, from the tower of Seveneh even to the border of Ethiopia.
11. No foot of man will pass through it, nor will any animal foot pass through it. It won’t be inhabited for forty years.
12. I will make the land of Egypt a desolation in the middle of the countries that are desolate. Her cities among the cities that are laid waste will be a desolation forty years. I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.”
13. “‘For thus says the Lord GOD: “At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the peoples where they were scattered.
14. I will reverse the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their birth. They will be a lowly kingdom, there.
15. It will be the lowest of the kingdoms. It won’t lift itself up above the nations any more. I will diminish them, so that they will no longer rule over the nations.
16. It will no longer be the confidence of the house of Israel, bringing iniquity to memory, when they turn to look after them. Then they will know that I am the Lord GOD.”’”
17. It came to pass in the twenty-seventh year, in the first month, in the first day of the month, the Lord’s word came to me, saying,