Word Against Egypt
That which came as the word of Yahweh to Jeremiah the prophet aconcerning the nations.
2 To aEgypt, concerning the military force of bPharaoh Neco king of Egypt, which was by the Euphrates River at cCarchemish, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon struck down in the dfourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah:
3 “aArrange the shield and large shield,
And draw near for the battle!
4 Harness the horses,
And mount the steeds,
And take your stand with helmets on!
aPolish the spears,
Put on the bscale‑armor!
5 Why have I seen it?
They are shattered;
They are adrawing back,
And their bmighty men are crushed
And have fled to refuge,
Without facing back;
cTerror is on every side!”
Declares Yahweh.
6 Let not the aswift man flee,
Nor the mighty man escape;
In the north beside the river Euphrates
They have bstumbled and fallen.
7 Who is this that arises like the Nile,
Like the rivers whose waters toss about?
8 Egypt rises like the Nile,
Even like the rivers whose waters toss about;
And He has said, “I will arise and cover that land;
I will surely bcause the city to perish, as well as its inhabitants.”
9 Go up, you horses, and adrive madly, you chariots,
That the mighty men may go forth:
Ethiopia and bPut, who seize the shield,
And the cLydians, who seize and bend the bow.
10 Indeed, athat day belongs to Lord Yahweh of hosts,
A day of bvengeance, so as to avenge Himself on His adversaries;
And the csword will devour and be satiated
And drink its fill of their blood;
For there will be a dsacrifice to Lord Yahweh of hosts
In the land of the north by the river Euphrates.
11 Go aup to Gilead and obtain balm,
bO virgin daughter of Egypt!
In vain have you multiplied remedies;
There is cno healing for you.
12 The nations have heard of your adisgrace,
And the earth is full of your boutcry;
For one cwarrior has stumbled over another,
And both of them have fallen down together.