1The word of Jehovah which came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations . 2Of Egypt : concerning the army of Pharaoh-neco 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 . 3Prepare 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 , put on the coats of mail. 5Wherefore have I seen it ? they are dismayed and are turned backward; and their mighty ones are beaten down , and are fled apace , and look not back : terror is on every side , saith Jehovah . 6Let not the swift flee away , nor the mighty man escape ; in the north by the river Euphrates have they stumbled and fallen . 7Who is this that riseth up like the Nile , whose waters toss themselves like the rivers ? 8Egypt riseth up like the Nile , and his waters toss themselves like the rivers : and he saith, I will rise up , I will cover the earth ; I will destroy cities and the inhabitants thereof . 9Go up , ye horses ; and rage , ye chariots ; and let the mighty men go forth : Cush and Put , that handle the shield ; and the Ludim , that handle and bend the bow . 10For that day is a day of the Lord , Jehovah of hosts , a day of vengeance , that he may avenge him of his adversaries : and the sword shall devour and be satiate , and shall drink its fill of their blood ; for the Lord , Jehovah of hosts , hath a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates . 11Go up into Gilead , and take balm , O virgin daughter of Egypt : in vain dost thou use many medicines ; there is no healing for thee . 12The nations have heard of thy shame , and the earth is full of thy cry ; for the mighty man hath stumbled against the mighty , they are fallen both of them together .
The Call to Prepare for Battle
13The word that Jehovah spake to Jeremiah the prophet , how that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon should come and smite the land of Egypt . 14Declare ye in Egypt , and publish in Migdol , and publish in Memphis and in Tahpanhes : say ye , Stand forth , and prepare thee ; for the sword hath devoured round about thee . 15Why are thy strong ones swept away ? they stood not , because Jehovah did drive them . 16He made many to stumble , yea , they fell one 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 . 17They cried there , Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise ; he hath let the appointed time pass by . 18As I live , saith the King , whose name is Jehovah of hosts , surely like Tabor among the mountains , and like Carmel by the sea , so shall he come . 19O thou daughter that dwellest in Egypt , furnish thyself to go into captivity ; for Memphis shall become a desolation , and shall be burnt up , without inhabitant . 20Egypt is a very fair heifer ; but destruction out of the north is come, it is come. 21Also her hired men in the midst of her are like calves of the stall ; for they also are turned back , they are fled away together , they did not stand : for the day of their calamity is come upon them , the time of their visitation . 22The sound thereof shall go like the 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 Jehovah , though it cannot be searched ; because they are more than the locusts, and are innumerable . 24The daughter of Egypt shall be put to shame; she shall be delivered into the hand of the people of the north .
The Judgment of Egypt
25Jehovah of hosts , the God of Israel , saith: Behold , I will punish Amon of No , and Pharaoh , and Egypt , with her gods, and her kings ; even Pharaoh , and them that trust in him : 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 afterwards it shall be inhabited , as in the days of old , saith Jehovah . 27But fear not thou , O Jacob my servant , neither be dismayed , O Israel : for , lo , I will save thee from afar , and thy seed from the land of their captivity ; and Jacob shall return , and shall be quiet and at ease , and none shall make him afraid . 28Fear not thou , O Jacob my servant , saith Jehovah ; 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 I will correct thee in measure , and will in no wise leave thee unpunished .