A Sad Day for Egypt
30 This is another message that came to me from the LORD: 2 “Son of man, prophesy and give this message from the Sovereign LORD: for that day, 3 for the terrible day is almost here— a day of despair for the nations. 4 A sword will come against Egypt, The land of Ethiopia will be ravished. 5 Ethiopia, Libya, Lydia, all Arabia, will be destroyed in that war. 6 “For this is what the LORD says: says the Sovereign LORD. 7 Egypt will be desolate, surrounded by other ruined cities. 8 And the people of Egypt will know that I am the LORD and destroyed all their allies. 9 At that time I will send swift messengers in ships It is sure to come! 10 “For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will destroy the hordes of Egypt. 11 He and his armies—the most ruthless of all— until slaughtered Egyptians cover the ground. 12 I will dry up the Nile River I, the LORD, have spoken! 13 “This is what the Sovereign LORD says: terror will sweep the land. 14 I will destroy southern Egypt, and bring judgment against Thebes. 15 I will pour out my fury on Pelusium, the hordes of Thebes. 16 Yes, I will set fire to all Egypt! Memphis will live in constant terror. 17 The young men of Heliopolis and Bubastis will die in battle, and the women will be taken away as slaves. 18 When I come to break the proud strength of Egypt, and its daughters will be led away as captives. 19 And so I will greatly punish Egypt, and they will know that I am the LORD.”
The Broken Arms of Pharaoh
20 On April 29, during the eleventh year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, this message came to me from the LORD: 21 “Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. His arm has not been put in a cast so that it may heal. Neither has it been bound up with a splint to make it strong enough to hold a sword. 22 Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am the enemy of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt! I will break both of his arms—the good arm along with the broken one—and I will make his sword clatter to the ground. 23 I will scatter the Egyptians to many lands throughout the world. 24 I will strengthen the arms of Babylon’s king and put my sword in his hand. But I will break the arms of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he will lie there mortally wounded, groaning in pain. 25 I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, while the arms of Pharaoh fall useless to his sides. And when I put my sword in the hand of Babylon’s king and he brings it against the land of Egypt, Egypt will know that I am the LORD. 26 I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, dispersing them throughout the earth. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”