Jeremiah 46:1-19

Prophecies concerning Egypt

46¹ The word of Yahweh which came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations. ² 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. ³ Prepare the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle! ⁴ Harness the horses, and get up, you horsemen, and stand forth with your helmets; furbish the spears, put on the coats of mail. ⁵ Why have I seen it? they are dismayed and are turned backward; and their mighty ones are beaten down, and have fled apace, and don’t look back: terror is on every side, says Yahweh. ⁶ Don’t let the swift flee away, nor the mighty man escape; in the north by the river Euphrates have they stumbled and fallen. ⁷ Who is this who rises up like the Nile, whose waters toss themselves like the rivers? ⁸ Egypt rises up like the Nile, and his waters toss themselves like the rivers: and he says, I will rise up, I will cover the earth; I will destroy cities and its inhabitants. ⁹ Go up, you horses; and rage, you chariots; and let the mighty men go forth: Cush and Put, who handle the shield; and the Ludim, who handle and bend the bow. ¹⁰ For that day is a day of the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour and be satiate, and shall 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: in vain do you use many medicines; 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 are fallen both of them together. ¹³ The word that Yahweh spoke to Jeremiah the prophet, how that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon should come and strike the land of Egypt. ¹⁴ Declare in Egypt, and publish in Migdol, and publish in Memphis and in Tahpanhes: say, Stand forth, and prepare; for the sword has devoured around you. ¹⁵ Why are your strong ones swept away? they didn’t stand, because Yahweh did drive them. ¹⁶ He made many to stumble, yes, they fell one on another: and they said, Arise, and let us go again to our own people, and to the land of our birth, from the oppressing sword. ¹⁷ They cried there, Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise; he has let the appointed time pass by. ¹⁸ As I live, says the King, whose name is Yahweh of Armies, surely like Tabor among the mountains, and like Carmel by the sea, so shall he come. ¹⁹ You daughter who dwells in Egypt, furnish yourself to go into captivity; for Memphis shall become a desolation, and shall be burnt up, without inhabitant.