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46 Yahweh’s word which came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations.

Of Egypt: concerning the army of Pharaoh Necoh king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon struck in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah.

“Prepare the buckler and shield,
    and draw near to battle!
Harness the horses, and get up, you horsemen,
    and stand up with your helmets.
Polish the spears,
    put on the coats of mail.
Why have I seen it?
    They are dismayed and are turned backward.
Their mighty ones are beaten down,
    have fled in haste,
    and don’t look back.
Terror is on every side,”
    says Yahweh.
“Don’t let the swift flee away,
    nor the mighty man escape.
In the north by the river Euphrates
    they have stumbled and fallen.

“Who is this who rises up like the Nile,
    whose waters toss themselves like the rivers?
Egypt rises up like the Nile,
    and his waters toss themselves like the rivers.
He says, ‘I will rise up. I will cover the earth.
    I will destroy cities and its inhabitants.’
Go up, you horses!
    Rage, you chariots!
Let the mighty men go out:
    Cush and Put, who handle the shield;
    and the Ludim, who handle and bend the bow.
10 For that day is of the Lord, Yahweh of Armies,
    a day of vengeance,
    that he may avenge himself of his adversaries.
The sword will devour and be satiated,
    and will drink its fill of their blood;
    for the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, has a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates.
11 Go up into Gilead, and take balm, virgin daughter of Egypt.
    You use many medicines in vain.
    There is no healing for you.
12 The nations have heard of your shame,
    and the earth is full of your cry;
    for the mighty man has stumbled against the mighty,
    they both fall together.”

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Prophecies against the Nations

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

Prophecies against Egypt

About Egypt and the army of Pharaoh Neco, Egypt’s king,(B) which was defeated at Carchemish(C) on the Euphrates River by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon in the fourth year of Judah’s King Jehoiakim son of Josiah:(D)

Deploy small shields(E) and large;
approach for battle!
Harness the horses;
mount the steeds;[a]
take your positions with helmets on!
Polish the lances;
put on armor!(F)
Why have I seen this?
They are terrified,
they are retreating,
their warriors are crushed,
they flee headlong,
they never look back,
terror is on every side!(G)
This is the Lord’s declaration.
The swift cannot flee,
and the warrior cannot escape!(H)
In the north by the bank of the Euphrates River,
they stumble and fall.(I)
Who is this, rising like the Nile,(J)
with waters that churn like rivers?
Egypt rises like the Nile,(K)
and its waters churn like rivers.
He boasts, “I will go up, I will cover the earth;
I will destroy cities with their residents.”
Rise up, you cavalry!
Race furiously, you chariots!
Let the warriors march out—
Cush and Put,(L)
who are able to handle shields,
and the men of Lud,(M)
who are able to handle and string the bow.(N)
10 That day belongs to the Lord, the God of Armies,
a day of vengeance to avenge himself
against his adversaries.
The sword will devour and be satisfied;
it will drink its fill of their blood,
because it will be a sacrifice(O) to the Lord, the God of Armies,
in the northern land by the Euphrates River.(P)
11 Go up to Gilead and get balm,(Q)
Virgin Daughter Egypt!
You have multiplied remedies in vain;
there is no healing for you.
12 The nations have heard of your dishonor,(R)
and your cries fill the earth,
because warrior stumbles against warrior
and together both of them have fallen.

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Footnotes

  1. 46:4 Or mount up, riders