For that daybelongs to the LordGODof hosts,A dayof vengeance,so as to avengeHimself on His foes;And the swordwill devourand be satiatedAnd drinkits fillof their blood;For there will be a slaughterfor the LordGODof hosts,In the landof the northby the riverEuphrates.
The kingof Egyptdidnot comeout of his landagain,for the kingof Babylonhad takenallthat belongedto the kingof Egyptfrom the brookof Egyptto the riverEuphrates.
"Whyare timesnot storedup by the Almighty,And why do those who knowHim not seeHis days?
Wail,for the dayof the LORDis near!It will comeas destructionfrom the Almighty.
For the LORDof hostswill have a day[of reckoning] Againsteveryonewhois proudand loftyAnd againsteveryonewho is liftedup, That he may be abased.
And the Assyrianwill fallby a swordnot of man,And a swordnot of manwill devourhim. So he will not escapethe sword,And his youngmenwill becomeforcedlaborers.
To proclaimthe favorableyearof the LORDAnd the dayof vengeanceof our God;To comfortallwho mourn,
"For the dayof vengeancewas in My heart,And My yearof redemptionhas come.
"On allthe bareheightsin the wildernessDestroyershave come,For a swordof the LORDis devouringFrom one endof the landeven to the other;Thereis nopeacefor anyone.
"Declarein Egyptand proclaimin Migdol,Proclaimalso in Memphisand Tahpanhes;Say,'Takeyour standand getyourself ready,For the swordhas devouredthose aroundyou.'
To Egypt,concerningthe armyof PharaohNecokingof Egypt,whichwas by the EuphratesRiverat Carchemish,whichNebuchadnezzarkingof Babylondefeatedin the fourthyearof Jehoiakimthe sonof Josiah,kingof Judah:
Let not the swiftmanflee,Northe mightymanescape;In the northbesidethe riverEuphratesThey have stumbledand fallen.
"Raiseyour battlecryagainsther on everyside!She has givenherselfup, her pillarshave fallen,Her wallshave been torndown.For thisis the vengeanceof the LORD:Takevengeanceon her; As she has done[to others, so] doto her.
"Thereforethussaysthe LORDof hosts,the Godof Israel:'Behold,I am going to punishthe kingof Babylonand his land,justas I punishedthe kingof Assyria.
Fleefrom the midstof Babylon,And eachof you savehis life!Do not be destroyedin her punishment,For thisis the LORD'Stimeof vengeance;He is going to renderrecompenseto her.
"And you, sonof man,prophesyand say,'Thussaysthe LordGODconcerningthe sonsof Ammonand concerningtheir reproach,'and say:'A sword,a swordis drawn,polishedfor the slaughter,to cause it to consume,that it may be like lightning--
Alasfor the day!For the dayof the LORDis near,And it will comeas destructionfrom the Almighty.
Blowa trumpetin Zion,And soundan alarmon My holymountain!Let allthe inhabitantsof the landtremble,For the dayof the LORDis coming;Surelyit is near,
with one of whichthe blackhorsesare goingforthto the northcountry;and the whiteonesgoforthafterthem, while the dappledonesgoforthto the southcountry.
becausetheseare daysof vengeance,so that all thingswhich are writtenwill be fulfilled.
I will make My arrowsdrunkwith blood,And My swordwill devourflesh,With the bloodof the slainand the captives,From the long-hairedleadersof the enemy.'
