Jeremiah 46

1 This is ^{a46:1 The Heb. lacks This is} the message from the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations.ISV — Jeremiah 46:1

2 To Egypt: Concerning the army of King Pharaoh Neco of Egypt, which was encamped by the Euphrates River at Carchemish and which King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon defeated in the fourth year of the reign of ^{b46:2 The Heb. lacks the reign of} Josiah’s son Jehoiakim, king of Judah.ISV — Jeremiah 46:2

3 “Prepare buckler and shield, and advance into the battle!ISV — Jeremiah 46:3

4 Harness the horses! Riders, mount up! Take your ^{c46:4 The Heb. lacks your} positions with your ^{d46:4 The Heb. lacks your} helmets! Polish lances, and put on armor!ISV — Jeremiah 46:4

5 Why am I seeing this? ^{e46:5 The Heb. lacks this} They’re terrified, they have turned back. Their warriors are crushed, and they take flight. They don’t look back. Terror is on every side,” declares the LORD.ISV — Jeremiah 46:5

6 “The swift cannot flee, nor can the strong escape. In the north, beside the Euphrates River, they stumble and fall.ISV — Jeremiah 46:6

7 Who is this, rising like the Nile, like rivers whose waters surge?ISV — Jeremiah 46:7

8 Egypt is rising like the Nile, like rivers whose waters surge. He says, ‘I’ll rise and cover the land. ^{f46:8 Or earth} I’ll destroy the city and its inhabitants.’ISV — Jeremiah 46:8

9 Horses, get up! Chariots, drive furiously! Let the warriors go forward, Ethiopia and Put, who carry shields, and the Lydians who handle and bend the bow.ISV — Jeremiah 46:9

10 That day belongs to the LORD of the Heavenly Armies. It is a day of vengeance to take vengeance on his foes. The sword will devour and be satisfied, and will drink its fill of their blood. For the Lord GOD of the Heavenly Armies will hold a sacrifice in the land of the north, by the Euphrates river.ISV — Jeremiah 46:10

11 Go up to Gilead and get balm, ^{g46:11 Balm was a spice with medicinal uses.} virgin daughter of Egypt! In vain you multiply remedies, but there is no healing for you.ISV — Jeremiah 46:11

12 The nations have heard of your disgrace, and your cry of distress fills the earth. Indeed, one warrior stumbles over another, and both of them fall down together.”ISV — Jeremiah 46:12

13 This is the message that the LORD spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the coming of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon to conquer ^{h46:13 Lit. strike down} the land of Egypt.ISV — Jeremiah 46:13

14 “Announce in Egypt, proclaim in Migdol. Proclaim also in Memphis and Tahpanhes. Say, ‘Take your positions and be ready, for the sword will devour all around you.’ISV — Jeremiah 46:14

15 Why are your warriors prostrate? They don’t stand ^{i46:15 Or Why does Apis flee and your bull not stand?} because the LORD has brought them down.ISV — Jeremiah 46:15

16 They repeatedly stumble and fall. They say to each other, ‘Get up! Let’s go back to our people and to the land of our birth, away from the oppressor’s sword.’ISV — Jeremiah 46:16

17 There they’ll cry out, ‘Pharaoh, king of Egypt, is just a big noise. He has let the appointed time pass by.’ ^{j46:17 i.e. he has missed the opportunity}ISV — Jeremiah 46:17

18 As certainly as I’m alive and living,” declares the King, whose name is the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, “Indeed, one will come like Tabor among the mountains and like Carmel by the sea.ISV — Jeremiah 46:18

19 Prepare your baggage for exile, daughter living in Egypt, for Memphis will become a desolate place. It will become a ruin without inhabitant.ISV — Jeremiah 46:19

20 Egypt is a beautiful calf, ^{k46:20 Or heifer} but a horsefly from the north is surely coming.ISV — Jeremiah 46:20

21 Even the mercenary troops in her ranks are like a fattened calf. They too will turn around, and will flee together. They won’t stand, for the day of their disaster is coming on them, the time of their punishment.ISV — Jeremiah 46:21

22 Her cry will be like that of a fleeing serpent when they come in strength. They’re coming to her with axes like woodcutters.ISV — Jeremiah 46:22

23 They’ll cut down her forest, though it’s impenetrable,” declares the LORD, “for they’re more numerous than locusts, and there are too many of them to count.ISV — Jeremiah 46:23

24 The daughter of Egypt will be put to shame, she will be given into the hands of the people from the north.”ISV — Jeremiah 46:24

25 The LORD of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel says, “Look, I’m going to punish Amon of Thebes, Pharaoh, Egypt, its gods and its kings, Pharaoh, and those who trust in him.ISV — Jeremiah 46:25

26 I’ll give them to those who are seeking their lives and to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and his officers. ^{l46:26 Or servants} Then afterwards, Egypt will be inhabited as in times past,” declares the LORD.ISV — Jeremiah 46:26

27 “As for you, my servant Jacob, don’t be afraid, and Israel, don’t be dismayed. For I’ll deliver you from a distant place, and your descendants from the land of their captivity. Jacob will return. He will be undisturbed and secure, and no one will cause him to fear.ISV — Jeremiah 46:27

28 “As for you, my servant Jacob, don’t be afraid, and Israel, don’t be dismayed,” declares the LORD, “for I am with you. Indeed, I’ll make an end of all the nations where I scattered you; but I won’t make an end of you! I’ll discipline you justly, but I’ll certainly not leave you unpunished.”ISV — Jeremiah 46:28