13 This is the [a]message which the Lord spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the (A)coming of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to (B)strike the land of Egypt:

14 “Declare in Egypt and proclaim in (C)Migdol,
Proclaim also in Memphis and (D)Tahpanhes;
Say, ‘Take your stand and get yourself ready,
For the (E)sword has devoured those around you.’
15 Why have your (F)powerful ones been cut down?
They do not stand because the Lord has (G)thrust them away.
16 They have repeatedly (H)stumbled;
Indeed, they have fallen, one against another.
Then they said, ‘Get up, and (I)let’s go back
To our own people and our native land,
Away from the [b](J)sword of the oppressor!’
17 [c]They shouted there, ‘Pharaoh king of Egypt is nothing but (K)a big noise;
He has let the appointed time pass by!’
18 As I live,” declares the (L)King,
Whose name is the Lord of armies,
“One certainly shall come who is like (M)Tabor among the mountains,
Or like (N)Carmel by the sea.
19 Make your baggage ready for (O)exile,
(P)Daughter living in Egypt,
For (Q)Memphis will become a desolation;
It will be destroyed and [d]deprived of inhabitants.
20 Egypt is a pretty (R)heifer,
But a [e]horsefly is coming (S)from the north—it is coming!
21 Also her (T)mercenaries in her midst
Are like fattened (U)calves,
For they too have turned away and have fled together;
They did not stand their ground.
For the day of their disaster has come upon them,
The time of their (V)punishment.
22 Its sound moves along like a serpent;
For they move on [f]like an army
And come to her as woodcutters with axes.
23 They have cut down her (W)forest,” declares the Lord;
“Certainly it will no longer be found,
Even though [g]they are more numerous than (X)locusts
And are without number.
24 The daughter of Egypt has been put to shame,
Turned over to the [h]power of the (Y)people of the north.”

25 The Lord of armies, the God of Israel says: “Behold, I am going to punish Amon of (Z)Thebes, and (AA)Pharaoh, and Egypt along with her (AB)gods and her kings, indeed, Pharaoh and those who (AC)trust in him. 26 I shall hand them over to those who are (AD)seeking their lives, that is, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to his [i]officers. (AE)Afterward, however, it will be inhabited as in the days of old,” declares the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 46:13 Lit word
  2. Jeremiah 46:16 Lit oppressing sword
  3. Jeremiah 46:17 Some ancient versions Call the name of Pharaoh a big noise
  4. Jeremiah 46:19 Lit without
  5. Jeremiah 46:20 Or possibly mosquito
  6. Jeremiah 46:22 Or in force
  7. Jeremiah 46:23 I.e., trees of the forest, the Egyptians
  8. Jeremiah 46:24 Lit hand
  9. Jeremiah 46:26 Lit servants

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:(A)

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.”(B)
15 Why has Apis[a] fled?
    Why did your bull not stand?
    Because the Lord thrust him down.
16 Your multitude stumbled[b] 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.”(C)
17 Give Pharaoh, king of Egypt, the name
    “Braggart who missed his chance.”(D)

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.(E)
19 Pack your bags for exile,
    sheltered daughter Egypt!
For Memphis shall become a waste,
    a ruin, without inhabitant.(F)

20 A beautiful heifer is Egypt—
    a gadfly from the north lights upon her.(G)
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.(H)

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.(I)
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.(J)
24 Daughter Egypt shall be put to shame;
    she shall be handed over to a people from the north.(K)

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.(L) 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.(M)

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Footnotes

  1. 46.15 Gk: Heb mighty ones
  2. 46.16 Gk: Heb the stumblers multiplied