Jeremiah 46

Words concerning the nations

1The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations:

Egypt at Carchemish

2Concerning Egypt: the army of Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt, which was by the Euphrates at Carchemish and which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon defeated in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah. 3“Ready the small shield and the large shield!
Advance to battle! 4Harness the horses!
Mount up, riders!
Take your positions with helmets on.
Polish the spears;
put on your armor! 5Why do I see them terrified,
falling back?
Their warriors are crushed.
They flee in panic and do not look back.
Terror on every side!” declares the LORD. 6The swift cannot flee;
the warrior cannot escape.
In the north, beside the Euphrates,
they stumble and fall. 7Who is this rising like the Nile,
whose waters surge like rivers? 8Egypt rises like the Nile,
its waters surging like rivers.
It says, “I will rise and cover the earth;
I will destroy cities and their people.” 9Charge, horses!
Race wildly, chariots!
Let the warriors march out:
Cush and Put, carrying shields,
and the Ludim, handling and drawing the bow. 10But that day belongs to the Lord GOD of hosts,
a day of vengeance, when he takes vengeance on his enemies.
The sword will eat its fill
and drink its fill of their blood.
For the Lord GOD of hosts has a sacrifice
in the north, beside the Euphrates. 11Go up to Gilead and get balm,
virgin daughter Egypt!
You multiply remedies in vain;
there is no healing for you. 12The nations have heard of your disgrace;
your cry fills the earth.
Warrior stumbles over warrior;
both fall together.

The coming attack on Egypt

13The word the LORD spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon coming to strike Egypt: 14“Announce it in Egypt;
proclaim it in Migdol,
proclaim it in Memphis and Tahpanhes:
‘Take your position and get ready,
for the sword has devoured all around you.’ 15Why is your mighty one swept away?
He cannot stand,
for the LORD has driven him down. 16He makes many stumble;
one falls against another.
They say, ‘Get up! Let us return to our people,
to the land of our birth,
away from the oppressor's sword.’ 17There they cry, ‘Pharaoh king of Egypt is all noise!
He has let the appointed time pass.’ 18As I live,” declares the King,
whose name is the LORD of hosts,
“one is coming, like Tabor among the mountains,
like Carmel beside the sea. 19Pack your belongings for exile,
daughter dwelling in Egypt!
Memphis will become a desolation,
laid waste, with no one living there. 20Egypt is a beautiful heifer,
but a biting fly comes from the north—it comes! 21Even the hired soldiers among her
are like fattened calves.
They too turn and flee together;
they do not stand.
Their day of disaster has come upon them,
the time of their reckoning. 22Her sound retreats like a snake,
for they advance in force.
They come at her with axes,
like men cutting wood. 23They will cut down her forest,” declares the LORD,
“though it cannot be searched through.
They are more numerous than locusts,
beyond counting. 24Daughter Egypt is disgraced,
handed over to a people from the north.” 25The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, says, “I am calling Amon of Thebes to account, along with Pharaoh, Egypt, her gods and kings—Pharaoh and everyone who trusts in him. 26I will hand them over to those who seek their lives, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and his servants. Afterward Egypt will be inhabited as in former days,” declares the LORD.

A word to Jacob

27“But you, my servant Jacob, do not fear;
do not be dismayed, Israel.
I will save you from far away,
and your offspring from the land of their captivity.
Jacob will return and live quietly, at ease,
with no one to make him afraid. 28Do not fear, my servant Jacob,” declares the LORD,
“for I am with you.
I will make an end of all the nations
where I have driven you,
but I will not make an end of you.
I will discipline you justly;
I will certainly not leave you unpunished.”