A Message About Egypt

46 This is the word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations:(A)

Concerning Egypt:(B)

This is the message against the army of Pharaoh Necho(C) king of Egypt, which was defeated at Carchemish(D) on the Euphrates(E) River by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon in the fourth year of Jehoiakim(F) son of Josiah king of Judah:

“Prepare your shields,(G) both large and small,
    and march out for battle!
Harness the horses,
    mount the steeds!
Take your positions
    with helmets on!
Polish(H) your spears,
    put on your armor!(I)
What do I see?
    They are terrified,
they are retreating,
    their warriors are defeated.
They flee(J) in haste
    without looking back,
    and there is terror(K) on every side,”
declares the Lord.
“The swift cannot flee(L)
    nor the strong escape.
In the north by the River Euphrates(M)
    they stumble and fall.(N)

“Who is this that rises like the Nile,
    like rivers of surging waters?(O)
Egypt rises like the Nile,(P)
    like rivers of surging waters.
She says, ‘I will rise and cover the earth;
    I will destroy cities and their people.’(Q)
Charge, you horses!
    Drive furiously, you charioteers!(R)
March on, you warriors—men of Cush[a](S) and Put who carry shields,
    men of Lydia(T) who draw the bow.
10 But that day(U) belongs to the Lord, the Lord Almighty—
    a day of vengeance(V), for vengeance on his foes.
The sword will devour(W) till it is satisfied,
    till it has quenched its thirst with blood.(X)
For the Lord, the Lord Almighty, will offer sacrifice(Y)
    in the land of the north by the River Euphrates.(Z)

11 “Go up to Gilead and get balm,(AA)
    Virgin(AB) Daughter Egypt.
But you try many medicines in vain;
    there is no healing(AC) for you.
12 The nations will hear of your shame;
    your cries will fill the earth.
One warrior will stumble over another;
    both will fall(AD) down together.”

13 This is the message the Lord spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the coming of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon(AE) to attack Egypt:(AF)

14 “Announce this in Egypt, and proclaim it in Migdol;
    proclaim it also in Memphis(AG) and Tahpanhes:(AH)
‘Take your positions and get ready,
    for the sword devours(AI) those around you.’
15 Why will your warriors be laid low?
    They cannot stand, for the Lord will push them down.(AJ)
16 They will stumble(AK) repeatedly;
    they will fall(AL) over each other.
They will say, ‘Get up, let us go back
    to our own people(AM) and our native lands,
    away from the sword of the oppressor.’(AN)
17 There they will exclaim,
    ‘Pharaoh king of Egypt is only a loud noise;(AO)
    he has missed his opportunity.(AP)

18 “As surely as I live,” declares the King,(AQ)
    whose name is the Lord Almighty,
“one will come who is like Tabor(AR) among the mountains,
    like Carmel(AS) by the sea.
19 Pack your belongings for exile,(AT)
    you who live in Egypt,
for Memphis(AU) will be laid waste(AV)
    and lie in ruins without inhabitant.

20 “Egypt is a beautiful heifer,
    but a gadfly is coming
    against her from the north.(AW)
21 The mercenaries(AX) in her ranks
    are like fattened calves.(AY)
They too will turn and flee(AZ) together,
    they will not stand their ground,
for the day(BA) of disaster is coming upon them,
    the time(BB) 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.(BC)
23 They will chop down her forest,”
declares the Lord,
    “dense though it be.
They are more numerous than locusts,(BD)
    they cannot be counted.
24 Daughter Egypt will be put to shame,
    given into the hands of the people of the north.(BE)

25 The Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “I am about to bring punishment on Amon god of Thebes,(BF) on Pharaoh,(BG) on Egypt and her gods(BH) and her kings, and on those who rely(BI) on Pharaoh. 26 I will give them into the hands(BJ) of those who want to kill them—Nebuchadnezzar king(BK) of Babylon and his officers. Later, however, Egypt will be inhabited(BL) as in times past,” declares the Lord.

27 “Do not be afraid,(BM) Jacob(BN) my servant;(BO)
    do not be dismayed, Israel.
I will surely save you out of a distant place,
    your descendants from the land of their exile.(BP)
Jacob will again have peace and security,
    and no one will make him afraid.
28 Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant,
    for I am with you,”(BQ) declares the Lord.
“Though I completely destroy(BR) all the nations
    among which I scatter you,
    I will not completely destroy you.
I will discipline you but only in due measure;
    I will not let you go entirely unpunished.”

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 46:9 That is, the upper Nile region

46 The word of the Lord which came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Gentiles;

Against Egypt, against the army of Pharaohnecho king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah.

Order ye the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle.

Harness the horses; and get up, ye horsemen, and stand forth with your helmets; furbish the spears, and put on the brigandines.

Wherefore have I seen them dismayed and turned away back? and their mighty ones are beaten down, and are fled apace, and look not back: for fear was round about, saith the Lord.

Let not the swift flee away, nor the mighty man escape; they shall stumble, and fall toward the north by the river Euphrates.

Who is this that cometh up as a flood, whose waters are moved as the rivers?

Egypt riseth up like a flood, and his waters are moved like the rivers; and he saith, I will go up, and will cover the earth; I will destroy the city and the inhabitants thereof.

Come up, ye horses; and rage, ye chariots; and let the mighty men come forth; the Ethiopians and the Libyans, that handle the shield; and the Lydians, that handle and bend the bow.

10 For this is the day of the Lord God of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood: for the Lord God of hosts hath a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates.

11 Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt: in vain shalt thou use many medicines; for thou shalt not be cured.

12 The nations have heard of thy shame, and thy cry hath filled the land: for the mighty man hath stumbled against the mighty, and they are fallen both together.

13 The word that the Lord spake to Jeremiah the prophet, how Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon should come and smite the land of Egypt.

14 Declare ye in Egypt, and publish in Migdol, and publish in Noph and in Tahpanhes: say ye, Stand fast, and prepare thee; for the sword shall devour round about thee.

15 Why are thy valiant men swept away? they stood not, because the Lord did drive them.

16 He made many to fall, yea, one fell upon another: and they said, Arise, and let us go again to our own people, and to the land of our nativity, from the oppressing sword.

17 They did cry there, Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise; he hath passed the time appointed.

18 As I live, saith the King, whose name is the Lord of hosts, Surely as Tabor is among the mountains, and as Carmel by the sea, so shall he come.

19 O thou daughter dwelling in Egypt, furnish thyself to go into captivity: for Noph shall be waste and desolate without an inhabitant.

20 Egypt is like a very fair heifer, but destruction cometh; it cometh out of the north.

21 Also her hired men are in the midst of her like fatted bullocks; for they also are turned back, and are fled away together: they did not stand, because the day of their calamity was come upon them, and the time of their visitation.

22 The voice thereof shall go like a serpent; for they shall march with an army, and come against her with axes, as hewers of wood.

23 They shall cut down her forest, saith the Lord, though it cannot be searched; because they are more than the grasshoppers, and are innumerable.

24 The daughter of Egypt shall be confounded; she shall be delivered into the hand of the people of the north.

25 The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saith; Behold, I will punish the multitude of No, and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with their gods, and their kings; even Pharaoh, and all them that trust in him:

26 And I will deliver them into the hand of those that seek their lives, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of his servants: and afterward it shall be inhabited, as in the days of old, saith the Lord.

27 But fear not thou, O my servant Jacob, and be not dismayed, O Israel: for, behold, I will save thee from afar off, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and be in rest and at ease, and none shall make him afraid.

28 Fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the Lord: for I am with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished.

Judgment on Egypt

46 The word of the Lord which came to Jeremiah the prophet against (A)the nations. Against (B)Egypt.

(C)Concerning the army of Pharaoh Necho, king of Egypt, which was by the River Euphrates in Carchemish, and which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon (D)defeated in the (E)fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah:

“Order[a] the [b]buckler and shield,
And draw near to battle!
Harness the horses,
And mount up, you horsemen!
Stand forth with your helmets,
Polish the spears,
(F)Put on the armor!
Why have I seen them dismayed and turned back?
Their mighty ones are beaten down;
They have speedily fled,
And did not look back,
For (G)fear was all around,” says the Lord.
“Do not let the swift flee away,
Nor the mighty man escape;
They will (H)stumble and fall
Toward the north, by the River Euphrates.

“Who is this coming up (I)like a flood,
Whose waters move like the rivers?
Egypt rises up like a flood,
And its waters move like the rivers;
And he says, ‘I will go up and cover the earth,
I will destroy the city and its inhabitants.’
Come up, O horses, and rage, O chariots!
And let the mighty men come forth:
[c]The Ethiopians and [d]the Libyans who handle the shield,
And the Lydians (J)who handle and bend the bow.
10 For this is (K)the day of the Lord God of hosts,
A day of vengeance,
That He may avenge Himself on His adversaries.
(L)The sword shall devour;
It shall be [e]satiated and made drunk with their blood;
For the Lord God of hosts (M)has a sacrifice
In the north country by the River Euphrates.

11 “Go(N) up to Gilead and take balm,
(O)O virgin, the daughter of Egypt;
In vain you will use many medicines;
(P)You shall not be cured.
12 The nations have heard of your (Q)shame,
And your cry has filled the land;
For the mighty man has stumbled against the mighty;
They both have fallen together.”

Babylonia Will Strike Egypt

13 The word that the Lord spoke to Jeremiah the prophet, how Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon would come and (R)strike the land of Egypt.

14 “Declare in Egypt, and proclaim in (S)Migdol;
Proclaim in [f]Noph and in (T)Tahpanhes;
Say, ‘Stand fast and prepare yourselves,
For the sword devours all around you.’
15 Why are your valiant men swept away?
They did not stand
Because the Lord drove them away.
16 He made many fall;
Yes, (U)one fell upon another.
And they said, ‘Arise!
(V)Let us go back to our own people
And to the land of our nativity
From the oppressing sword.’
17 They cried there,
‘Pharaoh, king of Egypt, is but a noise.
He has passed by the appointed time!’

18 As I live,” says the King,
(W)Whose name is the Lord of hosts,
“Surely as Tabor is among the mountains
And as Carmel by the sea, so he shall come.
19 O (X)you daughter dwelling in Egypt,
Prepare yourself (Y)to go into captivity!
For [g]Noph shall be waste and desolate, without inhabitant.

20 “Egypt is a very pretty (Z)heifer,
But destruction comes, it comes (AA)from the north.
21 Also her mercenaries are in her midst like [h]fat bulls,
For they also are turned back,
They have fled away together.
They did not stand,
For (AB)the day of their calamity had come upon them,
The time of their punishment.
22 (AC)Her noise shall go like a serpent,
For they shall march with an army
And come against her with axes,
Like those who chop wood.

23 “They shall (AD)cut down her forest,” says the Lord,
“Though it cannot be searched,
Because they are innumerable,
And more numerous than (AE)grasshoppers.
24 The daughter of Egypt shall be ashamed;
She shall be delivered into the hand
Of (AF)the people of the north.”

25 The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Behold, I will bring punishment on [i]Amon of (AG)No,[j] and Pharaoh and Egypt, (AH)with their gods and their kings—Pharaoh and those who (AI)trust in him. 26 (AJ)And I will deliver them into the hand of those who seek their lives, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the hand of his servants. (AK)Afterward it shall be inhabited as in the days of old,” says the Lord.

God Will Preserve Israel(AL)

27 “But(AM) do not fear, O My servant Jacob,
And do not be dismayed, O Israel!
For behold, I will (AN)save you from afar,
And your offspring from the land of their captivity;
Jacob shall return, have rest and be at ease;
No one shall make him afraid.
28 Do not fear, O Jacob My servant,” says the Lord,
“For I am with you;
For I will make a complete end of all the nations
To which I have driven you,
But I will not make (AO)a complete end of you.
I will rightly (AP)correct you,
For I will not leave you wholly unpunished.”

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 46:3 Set in order
  2. Jeremiah 46:3 A small shield
  3. Jeremiah 46:9 Heb. Cush
  4. Jeremiah 46:9 Heb. Put
  5. Jeremiah 46:10 Filled to the full
  6. Jeremiah 46:14 Ancient Memphis
  7. Jeremiah 46:19 Ancient Memphis
  8. Jeremiah 46:21 Lit. calves of the stall
  9. Jeremiah 46:25 A sun god
  10. Jeremiah 46:25 Ancient Thebes

Judgment on Egypt

46 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet (A)concerning the nations.

About Egypt. (B)Concerning the army of Pharaoh Neco, king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates at Carchemish and which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon defeated in (C)the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah:

(D)“Prepare buckler and shield,
    and advance for battle!
(E)Harness the horses;
    mount, O horsemen!
Take your stations with your helmets,
    (F)polish your spears,
    put on your armor!
Why have I seen it?
They are dismayed
    and have turned backward.
Their (G)warriors are beaten down
    and have fled in haste;
(H)they look not back—
    (I)terror on every side!
declares the Lord.

“The swift cannot flee away,
    nor the warrior escape;
(J)in the north by the river Euphrates
    (K)they have stumbled and fallen.

“Who is this, (L)rising like the Nile,
    like rivers (M)whose waters surge?
Egypt rises like the Nile,
    like rivers (N)whose waters surge.
He said, ‘I will rise, I will cover the earth,
    I will destroy cities and their inhabitants.’
(O)Advance, O horses,
    and rage, O chariots!
Let the warriors go out:
    men of Cush and (P)Put who handle the shield,
    (Q)men of Lud, skilled in handling the bow.
10 (R)That day is the day of the Lord God of hosts,
    (S)a day of vengeance,
    (T)to avenge himself on his foes.
(U)The sword shall devour and be sated
    and drink its fill of their blood.
For the Lord God of hosts holds (V)a sacrifice
    (W)in the north country (X)by the river Euphrates.
11 (Y)Go up to Gilead, and take (Z)balm,
    O virgin daughter of Egypt!
In vain you have used many medicines;
    (AA)there is no healing for you.
12 The nations have heard of your shame,
    and the earth is full of your cry;
(AB)for warrior has stumbled against warrior;
    they have both fallen together.”

13 The word that the Lord spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the coming of (AC)Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to strike the land of Egypt:

14 “Declare in Egypt, and proclaim in (AD)Migdol;
    proclaim in (AE)Memphis and (AF)Tahpanhes;
say, (AG)‘Stand ready and be prepared,
    for (AH)the sword shall devour around you.’
15 Why are your mighty ones face down?
    They do not stand[a]
    because the Lord thrust them down.
16 He made many stumble, (AI)and they fell,
    and they said one to another,
‘Arise, and let us go back to our own people
    and to the land of our birth,
    (AJ)because of the sword of the oppressor.’
17 Call the name of (AK)Pharaoh, king of Egypt,
    ‘Noisy one who lets the hour go by.’

18 (AL)“As I live, declares the King,
    (AM)whose name is the Lord of hosts,
like (AN)Tabor among the mountains
    and like (AO)Carmel by the sea, shall one come.
19 (AP)Prepare yourselves baggage for exile,
    O (AQ)inhabitants of Egypt!
For (AR)Memphis shall become a waste,
    a ruin, (AS)without inhabitant.

20 “A beautiful (AT)heifer is Egypt,
    but a biting fly (AU)from the north has come upon her.
21 Even her hired soldiers in her midst
    are like (AV)fattened calves;
yes, they have turned and fled together;
    they did not stand,
for the day of their calamity has come upon them,
    (AW)the time of their punishment.

22 “She makes (AX)a sound like a serpent gliding away;
    for her enemies march in force
and come against her with axes
    (AY)like those who fell trees.
23 (AZ)They shall cut down her forest,
declares the Lord,
    though it is impenetrable,
because (BA)they are more numerous than locusts;
    they are without number.
24 The daughter of Egypt shall be put to shame;
    she shall be delivered into the hand of (BB)a people from the north.”

25 The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, said: “Behold, I am bringing punishment upon (BC)Amon of (BD)Thebes, and Pharaoh and Egypt (BE)and her gods and her kings, upon Pharaoh and those who trust in him. 26 (BF)I will deliver them into the hand of those who seek their life, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and his officers. (BG)Afterward Egypt shall be inhabited (BH)as in the days of old, declares the Lord.

27 (BI)“But fear not, O Jacob my servant,
    nor be dismayed, O Israel,
for behold, I will save you from far away,
    and your offspring from the land of their captivity.
Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease,
    and none shall make him afraid.
28 (BJ)Fear not, O Jacob my servant,
declares the Lord,
    for I am with you.
I will make a full end of all the nations
    to which I have driven you,
    but of you I will not make a full end.
(BK)I will discipline you in just measure,
    and I will by no means leave you unpunished.”

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 46:15 Hebrew He does not stand