Messages for the Nations

46 The following messages were given to Jeremiah the prophet from the LORD concerning foreign nations.

Messages about Egypt

2 This message concerning Egypt was given in the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, the king of Judah, on the occasion of the battle of Carchemish when Pharaoh Neco, king of Egypt, and his army were defeated beside the Euphrates River by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. 3 “Prepare your shields, and advance into battle! 4 Harness the horses, and prepare your armor. 5 But what do I see? says the LORD. 6 “The swiftest runners cannot flee; they stumble and fall. 7 “Who is this, rising like the Nile at floodtime, overflowing all the land? 8 It is the Egyptian army, destroying cities and their people. 9 Charge, you horses and chariots; who are skilled with the shield and bow! 10 For this is the day of the Lord, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, in the north country beside the Euphrates River. 11 “Go up to Gilead to get medicine, will bring you no healing. 12 The nations have heard of your shame. and fall down together.” 13 Then the LORD gave the prophet Jeremiah this message about King Nebuchadnezzar’s plans to attack Egypt. 14 “Shout it out in Egypt! for the sword will devour everyone around you. 15 Why have your warriors fallen? They cannot stand, for the LORD has knocked them down. 16 They stumble and fall over each other Let’s get away from the sword of the enemy!’ 17 There they will say, who missed his opportunity!’ 18 “As surely as I live,” says the King, or as Mount Carmel by the sea! 19 Pack up! Get ready to leave for exile, without a single inhabitant. 20 Egypt is as sleek as a beautiful heifer, but a horsefly from the north is on its way! 21 Egypt’s mercenaries have become like fattened calves. a time of great punishment. 22 Egypt flees, silent as a serpent gliding away. they come against her with axes like woodsmen. 23 They will cut down her people like trees,” says the LORD, “for they are more numerous than locusts. 24 Egypt will be humiliated; she will be handed over to people from the north.” 25 The LORD of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: “I will punish Amon, the god of Thebes, and all the other gods of Egypt. I will punish its rulers and Pharaoh, too, and all who trust in him. 26 I will hand them over to those who want them killed—to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and his army. But afterward the land will recover from the ravages of war. I, the LORD, have spoken! 27 “But do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant; and no one will terrorize them. 28 Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant, I cannot let you go unpunished.”