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20 “Egypt is like a beautiful cow.
    But a horsefly[a] is coming from the north[b] to attack her.
21 The hired soldiers in Egypt’s army are like fat calves.
    They will all turn and run away.
    They will not stand strong against the attack.
Their time of destruction is coming.
    They will soon be punished.
22 Egypt is like a snake hissing
    and trying to escape.
The enemy comes closer and closer,
    and the Egyptian army is trying to slither away.
The enemy will attack Egypt with axes,
    like men cutting down trees.”

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 46:20 horsefly A large insect that often flies around cows and horses and bites them.
  2. Jeremiah 46:20 north The Babylonian army came from this direction to attack Judah. Armies from countries north and east of Israel often came this way to attack Judah and Israel.

20 “Egypt is a beautiful heifer,
    but a gadfly is coming
    against her from the north.(A)
21 The mercenaries(B) in her ranks
    are like fattened calves.(C)
They too will turn and flee(D) together,
    they will not stand their ground,
for the day(E) of disaster is coming upon them,
    the time(F) for them to be punished.
22 Egypt will hiss like a fleeing serpent
    as the enemy advances in force;
they will come against her with axes,
    like men who cut down trees.(G)

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