A Lament for Egypt

1 וַיְהִ֥י (And came) דְבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) אֵלַ֥י (to me) לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying),

2 בֶּן־ (Son) אָדָ֕ם (of man), הִנָּבֵא֙ (prophesy) וְאָ֣מַרְתָּ֔ (and say), כֹּ֥ה (thus) אָמַ֖ר (says) אֲדֹנָ֣י (the Lord) יְהוִ֑ה (YHWH); הֵילִ֖ילוּ (Wail) הָ֥הּ (alas) לַיּֽוֹם׃ (for the day)!

3 כִּֽי־ (For) קָר֣וֹב (near is), י֔וֹם (the day) וְקָר֥וֹב (and near is), י֖וֹם (the day) לַֽיהוָ֑ה (of YHWH) י֣וֹם (a day); עָנָ֔ן (of clouds) עֵ֥ת (a time) גּוֹיִ֖ם (of the nations) יִֽהְיֶֽה׃ (it will be).

4 וּבָאָ֥ה (And will come) חֶ֙רֶב֙ (a sword) בְּמִצְרַ֔יִם (against Egypt), וְהָיְתָ֤ה (and there will be) חַלְחָלָה֙ (anguish) בְּכ֔וּשׁ (in Cush), בִּנְפֹ֥ל (at the falling of) חָלָ֖ל (the slain) בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם (in Egypt), וְלָקְח֣וּ (and they will take away) הֲמוֹנָ֔הּ (her wealth), וְנֶהֶרְס֖וּ (and they will tear down) יְסוֹדֹתֶֽיהָ׃ (her foundations).

5 כּ֣וּשׁ (Cush), וּפ֤וּט (and Put), וְלוּד֙ (and Lud), וְכָל־ (and all) הָעֶ֣רֶב (the mixture), וְכ֔וּב (and libya), וּבְנֵ֖י (and the sons) אֶ֣רֶץ (of the land) הַבְּרִ֑ית (of the covenant), אִתָּ֖ם (with them) בַּחֶ֥רֶב (by the sword) יִפֹּֽלוּ׃פ (they will fall).

6 כֹּ֚ה (Thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH). וְנָֽפְלוּ֙ (And will fall); סֹמְכֵ֣י (those upholding) מִצְרַ֔יִם (Egypt) וְיָרַ֖ד (and will come down); גְּא֣וֹן (the pride) עֻזָּ֑הּ (of her strength) מִמִּגְדֹּ֣ל (from Migdol) סְוֵנֵ֗ה (to Syene) בַּחֶ֙רֶב֙ (by the sword), יִפְּלוּ־ (they will fall) בָ֔הּ (within her) נְאֻ֖ם (a declaration) אֲדֹנָ֥י (of the Lord) יְהוִֽה׃ (YHWH);

7 וְנָשַׁ֕מּוּ (and they will be desolate) בְּת֖וֹךְ (in the midst) אֲרָצ֣וֹת (of lands) נְשַׁמּ֑וֹת (desolate), וְעָרָ֕יו (and her cities) בְּתוֹךְ־ (in the midst) עָרִ֥ים (of the cities) נַחֲרָב֖וֹת (laid waste) תִּֽהְיֶֽינָה׃ (will be).

8 וְיָדְע֖וּ (And they will know) כִּֽי־ (that) אֲנִ֣י (I am) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH), בְּתִתִּי־ (in My giving forth) אֵ֣שׁ (a fire) בְּמִצְרַ֔יִם (in Egypt), וְנִשְׁבְּר֖וּ (so that are broken) כָּל־ (all) עֹזְרֶֽיהָ׃ (her helpers).

9 בַּיּ֣וֹם (On the day) הַה֗וּא (that) יֵצְא֨וּ (will go forth) מַלְאָכִ֤ים (messengers) מִלְּפָנַי֙ (from before My face) בַּצִּ֔ים (in ships) לְהַחֲרִ֖יד (to make tremble), אֶת־ (-) כּ֣וּשׁ (Cush) בֶּ֑טַח (the confident) וְהָיְתָ֨ה (and there will be) חַלְחָלָ֤ה (anguish) בָהֶם֙ (among them) בְּי֣וֹם (as on the day) מִצְרַ֔יִם (of Egypt); כִּ֥י (for), הִנֵּ֖ה (behold), בָּאָֽה׃ס (it is coming).

10 כֹּ֥ה (Thus) אָמַ֖ר (says) אֲדֹנָ֣י (the Lord) יְהוִ֑ה (YHWH); וְהִשְׁבַּתִּי֙ (and I will bring to an end) אֶת־ (-) הֲמ֣וֹן (the wealth) מִצְרַ֔יִם (of Egypt) בְּיַ֖ד (by the hand) נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֥ר (of Nebuchadnezzar) מֶלֶךְ־ (king) בָּבֶֽל׃ (of Babylon).

11 ה֠וּא (He) וְעַמּ֤וֹ (and his people) אִתּוֹ֙ (with him) עָרִיצֵ֣י (the most ruthless) גוֹיִ֔ם (of the nations), מֽוּבָאִ֖ים (will be brought) לְשַׁחֵ֣ת (to destroy) הָאָ֑רֶץ (the land); וְהֵרִ֤יקוּ (and they will draw out) חַרְבוֹתָם֙ (their swords) עַל־ (against) מִצְרַ֔יִם (Egypt), וּמָלְא֥וּ (and they will fill) אֶת־ (-) הָאָ֖רֶץ (the land) חָלָֽל׃ (with the slain).

12 וְנָתַתִּ֤י (I will make) יְאֹרִים֙ (the rivers) חָֽרָבָ֔ה (into dry ground), וּמָכַרְתִּ֥י (and will sell) אֶת־ (-) הָאָ֖רֶץ (the land) בְּיַד־ (into the hand) רָעִ֑ים (of the wicked); וַהֲשִׁמֹּתִ֞י (and I will make desolate) אֶ֤רֶץ (the land) וּמְלֹאָהּ֙ (and its fullness), בְּיַד־ (by the hand) זָרִ֔ים (of strangers); אֲנִ֥י (I) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) דִּבַּֽרְתִּי׃ס (have spoken).

13 כֹּֽה־ (Thus) אָמַ֞ר (says) אֲדֹנָ֣י (the Lord) יְהוִ֗ה (YHWH); וְהַאֲבַדְתִּ֨י (and I will destroy) גִלּוּלִ֜ים (the idols), וְהִשְׁבַּתִּ֤י (and I will put end) אֱלִילִים֙ (to the images) מִנֹּ֔ף (from Noph) וְנָשִׂ֥יא (and a prince) מֵאֶֽרֶץ־ (from the land) מִצְרַ֖יִם (of Egypt); לֹ֣א (no) יִֽהְיֶה־ (will be) ע֑וֹד (more) וְנָתַתִּ֥י (and I will put) יִרְאָ֖ה (a fear) בְּאֶ֥רֶץ (in the land) מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (of Egypt).

14 וַהֲשִׁמֹּתִי֙ (And I will make desolate) אֶת־ (-) פַּתְר֔וֹס (Pathros) וְנָתַ֥תִּי (and I will give forth) אֵ֖שׁ (fire) בְּצֹ֑עַן (against Zoan), וְעָשִׂ֥יתִי (and I will make) שְׁפָטִ֖ים (judgments) בְּנֹֽא׃ (on Thebes).

15 וְשָׁפַכְתִּ֣י (And I will pour out) חֲמָתִ֔י (My fury) עַל־ (on) סִ֖ין (Pelusium), מָע֣וֹז (the strength) מִצְרָ֑יִם (of Egypt); וְהִכְרַתִּ֖י (and I will cut off) אֶת־ (-) הֲמ֥וֹן (the crowd) נֹֽא׃ (of Thebes).

16 וְנָתַ֤תִּי (And I will give forth) אֵשׁ֙ (a fire) בְּמִצְרַ֔יִם (in Egypt); ח֤וּל (with writhing), תָּחִיל (will writhe), סִ֔ין (Pelusium) וְנֹ֖א (and Thebes) תִּהְיֶ֣ה (will be) לְהִבָּקֵ֑עַ (split open), וְנֹ֖ף (and Noph) צָרֵ֥י (distress) יוֹמָֽם׃ (has daily).

17 בַּח֥וּרֵי (The young men) אָ֛וֶן (of Aven) וּפִי־ (and Pi-) בֶ֖סֶת (Beseth) בַּחֶ֣רֶב (by the sword), יִפֹּ֑לוּ (will fall) וְהֵ֖נָּה (and they) בַּשְּׁבִ֥י (into captivity) תֵלַֽכְנָה׃ (will go).

18 וּבִֽתְחַפְנְחֵס֙ (And at Tahpanhes) חָשַׂ֣ךְ (will be held back) הַיּ֔וֹם (the day) בְּשִׁבְרִי־ (in my breaking) שָׁם֙ (there) אֶת־ (-) מֹט֣וֹת (the yoke) מִצְרַ֔יִם (of Egypt). וְנִשְׁבַּת־ (And will cease) בָּ֖הּ (in her) גְּא֣וֹן (the pride) עֻזָּ֑הּ (of her strength) הִ֚יא (as for her), עָנָ֣ן (a cloud) יְכַסֶּ֔נָּה (will cover her) וּבְנוֹתֶ֖יהָ (and her daughters) בַּשְּׁבִ֥י (into captivity) תֵלַֽכְנָה׃ (will go).

19 וְעָשִׂ֥יתִי (And I will make) שְׁפָטִ֖ים (judgments) בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם (against Egypt), וְיָדְע֖וּ (and they will know) כִּֽי־ (that) אֲנִ֥י (I am) יְהוָֽה׃פ (YHWH).

Pharaoh’s Power Broken

20 וַיְהִ֗י (And it came to pass) בְּאַחַ֤ת (in the one) עֶשְׂרֵה֙ (and tenth) שָׁנָ֔ה (year), בָּֽרִאשׁ֖וֹן (in the first month) בְּשִׁבְעָ֣ה (on the seventh) לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ (of the month), הָיָ֥ה (that came) דְבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) אֵלַ֥י (to me) לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying),

21 בֶּן־ (Son) אָדָ֕ם (of man), אֶת־ (-) זְר֛וֹעַ (the arm) פַּרְעֹ֥ה (of Pharaoh) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) מִצְרַ֖יִם (of Egypt); שָׁבָ֑רְתִּי (I have broken) וְהִנֵּ֣ה (and behold), לֹֽא־ (not) חֻ֠בְּשָׁה (been bound up) לָתֵ֨ת (to give) רְפֻא֜וֹת (healing), לָשׂ֥וּם (to put) חִתּ֛וּל (a bandage) לְחָבְשָׁ֥הּ (to bind it) לְחָזְקָ֖הּ (for strength) לִתְפֹּ֥שׂ (to hold) בֶּחָֽרֶב׃ס (the sword).

22 לָכֵ֞ן (Therefore) כֹּה־ (thus) אָמַ֣ר׀ (says) אֲדֹנָ֣י (the Lord) יְהֹוִ֗ה (YHWH); הִנְנִי֙ (behold, I am) אֶל־ (against) פַּרְעֹ֣ה (Pharaoh) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) מִצְרַ֔יִם (of Egypt), וְשָֽׁבַרְתִּי֙ (and I will break) אֶת־ (-) זְרֹ֣עֹתָ֔יו (his arms), אֶת־ (-) הַחֲזָקָ֖ה (the strong one), וְאֶת־ (and) הַנִּשְׁבָּ֑רֶת (the broken one); וְהִפַּלְתִּ֥י (and I will make fall) אֶת־ (-) הַחֶ֖רֶב (the sword) מִיָּדֽוֹ׃ (from his hand).

23 וַהֲפִצוֹתִ֥י (And I will disperse) אֶת־ (-) מִצְרַ֖יִם (Egypt) בַּגּוֹיִ֑ם (among the nations), וְזֵרִיתִ֖ם (and I will scatter them) בָּאֲרָצֽוֹת׃ (among the lands).

24 וְחִזַּקְתִּ֗י (And I will strengthen) אֶת־ (-) זְרֹעוֹת֙ (the arms) מֶ֣לֶךְ (of the king) בָּבֶ֔ל (of Babylon), וְנָתַתִּ֥י (and I will put) אֶת־ (-) חַרְבִּ֖י (My sword) בְּיָד֑וֹ (in his hand); וְשָׁבַרְתִּי֙ (and I will break) אֶת־ (-) זְרֹע֣וֹת (the arms), פַּרְעֹ֔ה (of Pharaoh) וְנָאַ֛ק (and he will groan) נַאֲק֥וֹת (the groans) חָלָ֖ל (of a wounded one) לְפָנָֽיו׃ (before him).

25 וְהַחֲזַקְתִּ֗י (And I will strengthen) אֶת־ (-) זְרֹעוֹת֙ (the arms) מֶ֣לֶךְ (of the king) בָּבֶ֔ל (of Babylon), וּזְרֹע֥וֹת (and the arms) פַּרְעֹ֖ה (of Pharaoh) תִּפֹּ֑לְנָה (will fall down); וְֽיָדְע֞וּ (and they will know) כִּֽי־ (that) אֲנִ֣י (I am) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH), בְּתִתִּ֤י (in My putting) חַרְבִּי֙ (My sword) בְּיַ֣ד (into the hand) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (of the king) בָּבֶ֔ל (of Babylon), וְנָטָ֥ה (and he stretches out) אוֹתָ֖הּ (it) אֶל־ (against) אֶ֥רֶץ (the land) מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (of Egypt).

26 וַהֲפִצוֹתִ֤י (And I will disperse) אֶת־ (-) מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ (Egypt) בַּגּוֹיִ֔ם (among the nations), וְזֵרִיתִ֥י (and will scatter) אוֹתָ֖ם (them) בָּאֲרָצ֑וֹת (among the lands); וְיָדְע֖וּ (and they will know) כִּֽי־ (that) אֲנִ֥י (I am) יְהוָֽה׃ס (YHWH).