Jeremiah 46

1The word of the LORD which came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Gentiles;

2Against Egypt, against the army of Pharaoh-necho king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah.

3Order ye the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle.

4Harness the horses; and get up, ye horsemen, and stand forth with your helmets; furbish the spears, and put on the brigandines.

5Wherefore have I seen them dismayed and turned away back? and their mighty ones are beaten down, and are fled apace, and look not back: for fear was round about, saith the LORD.footnote afootnote b

6Let not the swift flee away, nor the mighty man escape; they shall stumble, and fall toward the north by the river Euphrates.

7Who is this that cometh up as a flood, whose waters are moved as the rivers?

8Egypt riseth up like a flood, and his waters are moved like the rivers; and he saith, I will go up, and will cover the earth; I will destroy the city and the inhabitants thereof.

9Come up, ye horses; and rage, ye chariots; and let the mighty men come forth; the Ethiopians and the Libyans, that handle the shield; and the Lydians, that handle and bend the bow.footnote cfootnote d

10For this is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood: for the Lord GOD of hosts hath a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates.

11Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt: in vain shalt thou use many medicines; for thou shalt not be cured.footnote e

12The nations have heard of thy shame, and thy cry hath filled the land: for the mighty man hath stumbled against the mighty, and they are fallen both together.

13The word that the LORD spake to Jeremiah the prophet, how Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon should come and smite the land of Egypt.

14Declare ye in Egypt, and publish in Migdol, and publish in Noph and in Tahpanhes: say ye, Stand fast, and prepare thee; for the sword shall devour round about thee.

15Why are thy valiant men swept away? they stood not, because the LORD did drive them.

16He made many to fall, yea, one fell upon another: and they said, Arise, and let us go again to our own people, and to the land of our nativity, from the oppressing sword.footnote f

17They did cry there, Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise; he hath passed the time appointed.

18As I live, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts, Surely as Tabor is among the mountains, and as Carmel by the sea, so shall he come.

19O thou daughter dwelling in Egypt, furnish thyself to go into captivity: for Noph shall be waste and desolate without an inhabitant.footnote g

20Egypt is like a very fair heifer, but destruction cometh; it cometh out of the north.

21Also her hired men are in the midst of her like fatted bullocks; for they also are turned back, and are fled away together: they did not stand, because the day of their calamity was come upon them, and the time of their visitation.footnote h

22The voice thereof shall go like a serpent; for they shall march with an army, and come against her with axes, as hewers of wood.

23They shall cut down her forest, saith the LORD, though it cannot be searched; because they are more than the grasshoppers, and are innumerable.

24The daughter of Egypt shall be confounded; she shall be delivered into the hand of the people of the north.

25The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saith; Behold, I will punish the multitude of No, and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with their gods, and their kings; even Pharaoh, and all them that trust in him:footnote i

26And I will deliver them into the hand of those that seek their lives, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of his servants: and afterward it shall be inhabited, as in the days of old, saith the LORD.

27But fear not thou, O my servant Jacob, and be not dismayed, O Israel: for, behold, I will save thee from afar off, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and be in rest and at ease, and none shall make him afraid.

28Fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the LORD: for I am with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished.footnote j

Judgment on Egypt

1This is the word of the LORD about the nations—the word that came to Jeremiah the prophet 2concerning Egypt and the army of Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt, which was defeated at Carchemish on the Euphrates River by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah:

3“Deploy your shields, small and large;advance for battle! 4Harness the horses; mount the steeds;take your positions with helmets on!Polish your spears;put on armor!

5Why am I seeing this?They are terrified,they are retreating;their warriors are defeated,they flee in haste without looking back;terror is on every side!”declares the LORD. 6“The swift cannot flee,and the warrior cannot escape!In the north by the River Euphratesthey stumble and fall.

7Who is this, rising like the Nile,like rivers whose waters churn? 8Egypt rises like the Nile,and its waters churn like rivers,boasting, ‘I will rise and cover the earth;I will destroy the cities and their people.’

9Advance, O horses! Race furiously, O chariots!Let the warriors come forth—Cushfootnote aand Put carrying their shields,men of Lydia drawing the bow. 10For that day belongs to the Lord GOD of Hosts,a day of vengeance against His foes.The sword will devour until it is satisfied,until it is quenched with their blood.For the Lord GOD of Hosts will hold a sacrificein the land of the north by the River Euphrates.

11Go up to Gilead for balm,O Virgin Daughter of Egypt!In vain you try many remedies,but for you there is no healing. 12The nations have heard of your shame,and your outcry fills the earth,because warrior stumbles over warriorand both of them have fallen together.”

13This is the word that the LORD spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the coming of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to strike the land of Egypt:

14“Announce it in Egypt, and proclaim it in Migdol;proclaim it in Memphisfootnote band Tahpanhes:‘Take your positions and prepare yourself,for the sword devours those around you.’ 15Why have your warriors been laid low?They cannot stand, for the LORD has thrust them down. 16They continue to stumble;indeed, they have fallen over one another.They say, ‘Get up! Let us return to our peopleand to the land of our birth,away from the sword of the oppressor.’

17There they will cry out:‘Pharaoh king of Egypt was all noise;he has let the appointed time pass him by.’

18As surely as I live, declares the King,whose name is the LORD of Hosts,there will come one who is like Tabor among the mountainsand like Carmel by the sea. 19Pack your bags for exile,O daughter dwelling in Egypt!For Memphis will be laid waste,destroyed and uninhabited.

20Egypt is a beautiful heifer,but a gadfly from the north is coming against her. 21Even the mercenaries among herare like fattened calves.They too will turn back;together they will flee, they will not stand their ground,for the day of calamity is coming upon them—the time of their punishment.

22Egypt will hiss like a fleeing serpent,footnote cfor the enemy will advance in force;with axes they will come against herlike woodsmen cutting down trees. 23They will chop down her forest, declares the LORD,dense though it may be,for they are more numerous than locusts;they cannot be counted. 24The Daughter of Egypt will be put to shame;she will be delivered into the hands of the people of the north.”

25The LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Behold, I am about to punish Amon god of Thebes,footnote d along with Pharaoh, Egypt with her gods and kings, and those who trust in Pharaoh. 26I will deliver them into the hands of those who seek their lives—of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and his officers. But after this, Egypt will be inhabited as in days of old, declares the LORD.

27But you, O Jacob My servant, do not be afraid,and do not be dismayed, O Israel.For I will surely save you out of a distant place,your descendants from the land of their captivity!Jacob will return to quiet and ease,with no one to make him afraid. 28And you, My servant Jacob, do not be afraid,declares the LORD, for I am with you.Though I will completely destroy all the nations to which I have banished you,I will not completely destroy you.Yet I will discipline you justly,and will by no means leave you unpunished.”