Jeremiah 46:1-12

New International Reader's Version

A Message About Egypt

46 A message from the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet. It was about the nations.

²Here is what the Lord says about Egypt.

Here is his message against the army of Pharaoh Necho. He was king of Egypt. Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, won the battle over Necho’s army. That happened at Carchemish on the Euphrates River. It was in the fourth year that Jehoiakim was king of Judah. He was the son of Josiah. The message says,

³“Egyptians, prepare your shields!
    Prepare large and small shields alike!
    March out for battle!
⁴Get the horses and chariots ready to ride!
    Take up your battle positions!
    Put on your helmets!
Shine up your spears!
    Put on your armor!
⁵What do I see?
    The Egyptians are terrified.
They are pulling back.
    Their soldiers are losing.
They run away as fast as they can.
    They do not look back.
    There is terror on every side,” announces the Lord.
⁶“Those who run fast can’t get away.
    Those who are strong can’t escape.
In the north by the Euphrates River
    they trip and fall.

⁷“Who is this that rises like the Nile River?
    Who rises like rivers of rushing waters?
⁸Egypt rises like the Nile River.
    It rises like rivers of rushing waters.
Egypt says, ‘I will rise and cover the earth.
    I’ll destroy cities and their people.’
⁹Charge, you horses!
    Drive fast, you chariot drivers!
March on, you soldiers!
    March on, you men of Cush and Put who carry shields.
    March on, you men of Lydia who shoot arrows.
¹⁰But that day belongs to me.
    I am the Lord who rules over all.
    It is a day for me to pay back my enemies.
My sword will eat until it is satisfied.
    It will drink until it is not thirsty for blood anymore.
I am the Lord. I am the Lord who rules over all.
    I will offer a sacrifice.
I will offer it in the land of the north
    by the Euphrates River.

¹¹“People of Egypt,
    go up to Gilead and get some healing lotion.
You may try many medicines, but you will not be healed.
    There isn’t any healing for you.
¹²The nations will hear about your shame.
    Your cries of pain will fill the earth.
One soldier will trip over another.
    Both of them will fall down together.”