20 Egypt is a beautiful young cow,(A)
but a horsefly from the north is coming against her.[a](B)
21 Even her mercenaries among her
are like stall-fed calves.
They too will turn back;
together they will flee;
they will not take their stand,
for the day of their calamity is coming on them,
the time of their punishment.(C)
22 Egypt will hiss like a slithering snake,[b]
for the enemy will come with an army;
with axes they will come against her
like those who cut trees.(D)

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Footnotes

  1. 46:20 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr; other Hb mss read is coming, coming
  2. 46:22 Lit Her sound is like a snake as it goes

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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