Jeremiah 46
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Judgment on Egypt
46 The word of the Lord that came to the prophet Jeremiah concerning the nations.
2 Concerning Egypt, about the army of Pharaoh Neco, king of Egypt, which was by the River Euphrates at Carchemish and which King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon defeated in the fourth year of King Jehoiakim son of Josiah of Judah:(A)
3 Prepare buckler and shield,
and advance for battle!(B)
4 Harness the horses;
mount the steeds!
Take your stations with helmets on,
whet the lances,
put on coats of mail!
5 Why do I see them terrified?
They have fallen back;
their warriors are beaten down
and have fled in haste.
They do not look back—
terror is all around!
says the Lord.(C)
6 The swift cannot flee away,
nor can the warrior escape;
in the north by the River Euphrates
they have stumbled and fallen.(D)
7 Who is this, rising like the Nile,
like rivers whose waters surge?(E)
8 Egypt rises like the Nile,
like rivers whose waters surge.
It said, “Let me rise; let me cover the earth;
let me destroy cities and their inhabitants.”(F)
9 Advance, O horses,
and dash madly, O chariots!
Let the warriors go forth:
Cush and Put, who carry the shield,
the Ludim, who draw[a] the bow.(G)
10 That day is the day of the Lord God of hosts,
a day of retribution,
to gain vindication from his foes.
The sword shall devour and be sated
and drink its fill of their blood.
For the Lord God of hosts holds a sacrifice
in the land of the north by the River Euphrates.(H)
11 Go up to Gilead, and take balm,
O virgin daughter Egypt!
In vain you have used many medicines;
there is no healing for you.(I)
12 The nations have heard of your shame,
and the earth is full of your cry,
for warrior has stumbled against warrior;
both have fallen together.(J)
Babylonia Will Strike Egypt
13 The word that the Lord spoke to the prophet Jeremiah about the coming of King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon to attack the land of Egypt:(K)
14 Declare in Egypt and proclaim in Migdol;
proclaim in Memphis and Tahpanhes;
Say, “Take your stations and be ready,
for the sword shall devour those around you.”(L)
15 Why has Apis[b] fled?
Why did your bull not stand?
Because the Lord thrust him down.
16 Your multitude stumbled[c] and fell,
and one said to another,
“Come, let us go back to our own people
and to the land of our birth,
because of the destroying sword.”(M)
17 Give Pharaoh, king of Egypt, the name
“Braggart who missed his chance.”(N)
18 As I live, says the King,
whose name is the Lord of hosts,
one is coming
like Tabor among the mountains
and like Carmel by the sea.(O)
19 Pack your bags for exile,
sheltered daughter Egypt!
For Memphis shall become a waste,
a ruin, without inhabitant.(P)
20 A beautiful heifer is Egypt—
a gadfly from the north lights upon her.(Q)
21 Even her mercenaries in her midst
are like fatted calves;
they, too, have turned and fled together;
they did not stand,
for the day of their calamity has come upon them,
the time of their punishment.(R)
22 She makes a sound like a snake gliding away,
for her enemies march in force
and come against her with axes,
like those who fell trees.(S)
23 They shall cut down her forest,
says the Lord,
though it is impenetrable,
because they are more numerous
than locusts;
they are without number.(T)
24 Daughter Egypt shall be put to shame;
she shall be handed over to a people from the north.(U)
25 The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, said: See, I am bringing punishment upon Amon of Thebes and Pharaoh and Egypt and her gods and her kings, upon Pharaoh and those who trust in him.(V) 26 I will hand them over to those who seek their life, to King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon and his servants. Afterward Egypt shall be inhabited as in the days of old, says the Lord.(W)
God Will Save Israel
27 But as for you, have no fear, my servant Jacob,
and do not be dismayed, O Israel,
for I am going to save you from far away
and your offspring from the land of their captivity.
Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease,
and no one shall make him afraid.(X)
28 As for you, have no fear, my servant Jacob,
says the Lord,
for I am with you.
I will make an end of all the nations
among which I have banished you,
but I will not make an end of you!
I will chastise you in just measure,
and I will by no means leave you unpunished.(Y)
Jeremiah 46
English Standard Version
Judgment on Egypt
46 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet (A)concerning the nations.
2 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:
3 (D)“Prepare buckler and shield,
and advance for battle!
4 (E)Harness the horses;
mount, O horsemen!
Take your stations with your helmets,
(F)polish your spears,
put on your armor!
5 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.
6 “The swift cannot flee away,
nor the warrior escape;
(J)in the north by the river Euphrates
(K)they have stumbled and fallen.
7 “Who is this, (L)rising like the Nile,
like rivers (M)whose waters surge?
8 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.’
9 (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
- Jeremiah 46:15 Hebrew He does not stand
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
