"Declarein Egyptand proclaimin Migdol,Proclaimalso in Memphisand Tahpanhes;Say,'Takeyour standand getyourself ready,For the swordhas devouredthose aroundyou.'
Then Abnercalledto Joaband said,"Shall the sworddevourforever?Do you not knowthat it will be bitterin the end?Howlongwill you refrainfrom tellingthe peopleto turnbackfrom followingtheir brothers?"
"Tellthe sonsof Israelto turnbackand campbeforePi-hahiroth,betweenMigdoland the sea;you shall campin frontof Baal-zephon,oppositeit, by the sea.
"But ifyou refuseand rebel,You will be devouredby the sword."Truly,the mouthof the LORDhas spoken.
The princesof Zoanhave actedfoolishly,The princesof Memphisare deluded;[Those who are] the cornerstoneof her tribesHave ledEgyptastray.
And the Assyrianwill fallby a swordnot of man,And a swordnot of manwill devourhim. So he will not escapethe sword,And his youngmenwill becomeforcedlaborers.
The swordof the LORDis filledwith blood,It is satedwith fat,with the bloodof lambsand goats,With the fatof the kidneysof rams.For the LORDhas a sacrificein BozrahAnd a greatslaughterin the landof Edom.
"On allthe bareheightsin the wildernessDestroyershave come,For a swordof the LORDis devouringFrom one endof the landeven to the other;Thereis nopeacefor anyone.
"Alsothe menof Memphisand TahpanhesHave shavedthe crownof your head.
"In vainI have struckyour sons;They acceptednochastening.Your swordhas devouredyour prophetsLike a destroyinglion.
The wordthat cameto Jeremiahfor allthe Jewslivingin the landof Egypt,those who were livingin Migdol,Tahpanhes,Memphis,and the landof Pathros,saying,
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.
"Makeyour baggagereadyfor exile,O daughterdwellingin Egypt,For Memphiswill becomea desolation;It will even be burneddown[and] bereftof inhabitants.
To Egypt,concerningthe armyof PharaohNecokingof Egypt,whichwas by the EuphratesRiverat Carchemish,whichNebuchadnezzarkingof Babylondefeatedin the fourthyearof Jehoiakimthe sonof Josiah,kingof Judah:
"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--
Thussaysthe LordGOD,"I will also destroythe idolsAnd make the imagesceasefrom Memphis.And there will nolongerbe a princein the landof Egypt;And I will putfearin the landof Egypt.
For behold,they will gobecauseof destruction;Egyptwill gatherthem up, Memphiswill burythem. Weedswill takeovertheir treasuresof silver;Thorns[will be] in their tents.
"Behold,I am againstyou," declaresthe LORDof hosts."I will burnup her chariotsin smoke,a swordwill devouryour younglions;I will cutoffyour preyfrom the land,and nolongerwill the voiceof your messengersbe heard."
I will make My arrowsdrunkwith blood,And My swordwill devourflesh,With the bloodof the slainand the captives,From the long-hairedleadersof the enemy.'
