Ezekiel 30

A day for the nations

1The word of the LORD came to me: 2“Son of man, prophesy. Say: This is what the Lord GOD says:
‘Wail, “Alas for the day!” 3For a day is near,
the day of the LORD is near—
a day of clouds,
a time for the nations. 4A sword will come upon Egypt,
and anguish will seize Cush
when the slain fall in Egypt,
its wealth is carried off,
and its foundations are torn down. 5Cush, Put, Lud, all the mixed peoples, Cub, and the people of the covenant land will fall with them by the sword. 6“‘This is what the LORD says: Egypt’s supporters will fall, and the pride of its strength will sink. From Migdol to Syene they will fall within it by the sword, declares the Lord GOD. 7They will lie desolate among desolate lands, and its cities will stand among ruined cities. 8Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I set fire to Egypt and all its helpers are broken. 9On that day messengers will go out from me in ships to terrify unsuspecting Cush. Anguish will seize them on Egypt’s day. Look, it is coming!

Egypt’s cities fall

10“‘This is what the Lord GOD says: I will put an end to Egypt’s multitude through Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. 11He and his people, the most ruthless of nations, will be brought in to destroy the land. They will draw their swords against Egypt and fill the land with the slain. 12I will dry up the Nile channels and sell the land into the hands of evil men. Through foreigners I will lay waste the land and everything in it. I, the LORD, have spoken. 13“‘This is what the Lord GOD says: I will destroy the idols and put an end to the worthless gods of Memphis. There will no longer be a prince from Egypt, and I will spread fear through Egypt. 14I will lay Pathros waste, set fire to Zoan, and carry out judgments in Thebes. 15I will pour out my fury on Pelusium, Egypt’s stronghold, and cut off the multitude of Thebes. 16I will set fire to Egypt. Pelusium will writhe in anguish; Thebes will be breached, and Memphis will face enemies in broad daylight. 17The young men of On and Pi-beseth will fall by the sword, and the cities will go into captivity. 18At Tahpanhes daylight will darken when I break Egypt’s yoke bars there and put an end to its proud strength. A cloud will cover the city, and its daughters will go into captivity. 19I will carry out judgments against Egypt. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’”

The broken arms

20In the eleventh year, on the seventh day of the first month, the word of the LORD came to me: 21“Son of man, I have broken Pharaoh king of Egypt’s arm. It has not been bound up for healing or wrapped in a bandage to give it strength to grip a sword. 22Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt. I will break both his arms, the strong one and the broken one, and make the sword fall from his hand. 23I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them through the lands. 24I will strengthen the arms of Babylon’s king and put my sword in his hand. I will break Pharaoh’s arms, and he will groan before him like a mortally wounded man. 25I will strengthen the arms of Babylon’s king, while Pharaoh’s arms fall limp. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I put my sword into Babylon’s king’s hand and he stretches it out against Egypt. 26I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them through the lands. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”