English Standard Version

Christian Standard Bible

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

1This is the word of the LORD that came to the prophet Jeremiah about the nations:

2About Egypt. Concerning the army of Pharaoh Neco, king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates at Carchemish and which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon defeated in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah:

2About Egypt and the army of Pharaoh Neco, Egypt's king, which was defeated at Carchemish on the Euphrates River by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon in the fourth year of Judah's King Jehoiakim son of Josiah:

3“Prepare buckler and shield, and advance for battle!

3Deploy small shields and large; approach for battle!

4Harness the horses; mount, O horsemen! Take your stations with your helmets, polish your spears, put on your armor!

4Harness the horses; mount the steeds; take your positions with helmets on! Polish the lances; put on armor!

5Why have I seen it? They are dismayed and have turned backward. Their warriors are beaten down and have fled in haste; they look not back— terror on every side! declares the LORD.

5Why have I seen this? They are terrified, they are retreating, their warriors are crushed, they flee headlong, they never look back, terror is on every side! This is the LORD's declaration.

6“The swift cannot flee away, nor the warrior escape; in the north by the river Euphrates they have stumbled and fallen.

6The swift cannot flee, and the warrior cannot escape! In the north by the bank of the Euphrates River, they stumble and fall.

7“Who is this, rising like the Nile, like rivers whose waters surge?

7Who is this, rising like the Nile, with waters that churn like rivers?

8Egypt rises like the Nile, like rivers whose waters surge. He said, ‘I will rise, I will cover the earth, I will destroy cities and their inhabitants.’

8Egypt rises like the Nile, and its waters churn like rivers. He boasts, "I will go up, I will cover the earth; I will destroy cities with their residents."

9Advance, O horses, and rage, O chariots! Let the warriors go out: men of Cush and Put who handle the shield, men of Lud, skilled in handling the bow.

9Rise up, you cavalry! Race furiously, you chariots! Let the warriors march out--Cush and Put, who are able to handle shields, and the men of Lud, who are able to handle and string the bow.

10That day is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, to avenge himself on his foes. The sword shall devour and be sated and drink its fill of their blood. For the Lord GOD of hosts holds a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates.

10That day belongs to the Lord, the GOD of Armies, a day of vengeance to avenge himself against his adversaries. The sword will devour and be satisfied; it will drink its fill of their blood, because it will be a sacrifice to the Lord, the GOD of Armies, in the northern land by the Euphrates River.

11Go up to Gilead, and take balm, O virgin daughter of Egypt! In vain you have used many medicines; there is no healing for you.

11Go up to Gilead and get balm, Virgin Daughter Egypt! You have multiplied remedies in vain; there is no healing for you.

12The nations have heard of your shame, and the earth is full of your cry; for warrior has stumbled against warrior; they have both fallen together.”

12The nations have heard of your dishonor, and your cries fill the earth, because warrior stumbles against warrior and together both of them have fallen.

13The word that the LORD spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the coming of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to strike the land of Egypt:

13This is the word the LORD spoke to the prophet Jeremiah about the coming of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon to defeat the land of Egypt:

14“Declare in Egypt, and proclaim in Migdol; proclaim in Memphis and Tahpanhes; say, ‘Stand ready and be prepared, for the sword shall devour around you.’

14Announce it in Egypt, and proclaim it in Migdol! Proclaim it in Memphis and in Tahpanhes! Say, "Take positions! Prepare yourself, for the sword devours all around you."

15Why are your mighty ones face down? They do not stand because the LORD thrust them down.

15Why have your strong ones been swept away? Each has not stood, for the LORD has thrust him down.

16He made many stumble, and they fell, and they said one to another, ‘Arise, and let us go back to our own people and to the land of our birth, because of the sword of the oppressor.’

16He continues to stumble. Indeed, each falls over the other. They say, "Get up! Let's return to our people and to our native land, away from the oppressor's sword."

17Call the name of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, ‘Noisy one who lets the hour go by.’

17There they will cry out, "Pharaoh king of Egypt was all noise; he let the opportune moment pass."

18“As I live, declares the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts, like Tabor among the mountains and like Carmel by the sea, shall one come.

18As I live--this is the King's declaration; the LORD of Armies is his name--the king of Babylon will come like Tabor among the mountains and like Carmel by the sea.

19Prepare yourselves baggage for exile, O inhabitants of Egypt! For Memphis shall become a waste, a ruin, without inhabitant.

19Get your bags ready for exile, inhabitant of Daughter Egypt! For Memphis will become a desolation, uninhabited ruins.

20“A beautiful heifer is Egypt, but a biting fly from the north has come upon her.

20Egypt is a beautiful young cow, but a horsefly from the north is coming against her.

21Even her hired soldiers in her midst are like fattened calves; yes, they have turned and fled together; they did not stand, for the day of their calamity has come upon them, the time of their punishment.

21Even her mercenaries among her are like stall-fed calves. They too will turn back; together they will flee; they will not take their stand, for the day of their calamity is coming on them, the time of their punishment.

22“She makes a sound like a serpent gliding away; for her enemies march in force and come against her with axes like those who fell trees.

22Egypt will hiss like a slithering snake, for the enemy will come with an army; with axes they will come against her like those who cut trees.

23They shall cut down her forest, declares the LORD, though it is impenetrable, because they are more numerous than locusts; they are without number.

23They will cut down her forest--this is the LORD's declaration--though it is dense, for they are more numerous than locusts; they cannot be counted.

24The daughter of Egypt shall be put to shame; she shall be delivered into the hand of a people from the north.”

24Daughter Egypt will be put to shame, handed over to a northern people.

25The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, said: “Behold, I am bringing punishment upon Amon of Thebes, and Pharaoh and Egypt and her gods and her kings, upon Pharaoh and those who trust in him.

25The LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says, "I am about to punish Amon, god of Thebes, along with Pharaoh, Egypt, her gods, and her kings--Pharaoh and those trusting in him.

26I will deliver them into the hand of those who seek their life, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and his officers. Afterward Egypt shall be inhabited as in the days of old, declares the LORD.

26I will hand them over to those who intend to take their lives--to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and his officers. But after this, Egypt will be inhabited again as in ancient times." This is the LORD's declaration.

27“But fear not, O Jacob my servant, nor be dismayed, O Israel, for behold, I will save you from far away, and your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease, and none shall make him afraid.

27But you, my servant Jacob, do not be afraid, and do not be discouraged, Israel, for without fail I will save you from far away, and your descendants from the land of their captivity! Jacob will return and have calm and quiet with no one to frighten him.

28Fear not, O Jacob my servant, declares the LORD, for I am with you. I will make a full end of all the nations to which I have driven you, but of you I will not make a full end. I will discipline you in just measure, and I will by no means leave you unpunished.”

28And you, my servant Jacob, do not be afraid--this is the LORD's declaration--for I will be with you. I will bring destruction on all the nations where I have banished you, but I will not bring destruction on you. I will discipline you with justice, and I will by no means leave you unpunished.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.