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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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Judgment on Egypt

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

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)

Prepare buckler and shield,
    and advance for battle!(B)
Harness the horses;
    mount the steeds!
Take your stations with helmets on,
    whet the lances,
    put on coats of mail!
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)
The swift cannot flee away,
    nor can the warrior escape;
in the north by the River Euphrates
    they have stumbled and fallen.(D)

Who is this, rising like the Nile,
    like rivers whose waters surge?(E)
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)
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)

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Footnotes

  1. 46.9 Cn: Heb who grasp, who draw