Jeremiah 46:1-16 ▼

1 Heare folowe the wordes of the Lorde to the prophete Ieremie, which he spake against all the gentiles.

2 These wordes folowing preached he in the Egyptians, concerning the hoast of Pharao Necho kyng of Egypt, when he was in Charchamis beside the water of Euphrates, what tyme as Nabuchodonozor the kyng of Babylon slue hym, in the fourth yere of Iehoakim the sonne of Iosias kyng of Iuda.

3 Make redy buckler and shielde, and go foorth to fight.

4 Harnesse your horses, and set your selues vpon them, set your sallets fast on, bryng foorth speares, scoure your swordes, and put on your brestplates.

5 But alas, howe happeneth it that I see you so afraide? why shrinke ye backe? Their worthyes are slayne, yea they runne so fast away that none of them looketh behinde hym: fearefulnesse is fallen vpon euery one of them saith the Lorde.

6 The lightest of foote shall not flee away, and the worthyes shal not escape: towarde the north by the water of Euphrates they dyd stumble and fall.

7 But what is he this that swelleth vp as it were a fludde, roaring and raging lyke the streames of water?

8 It is Egypt that ryseth vp lyke the fludde, and casteth out the waters with so great noyse: And he saide, I wyll go vp and wyll couer the earth, I wyll destroy the citie with them that are therin.

9 Get you vp ye horses, roule foorth ye charets, come foorth worthyes, ye Ethiopians, ye Libyans with your bucklers, ye Lydians with your bowes.

10 But this day of the Lorde God of hoastes, is a day of vengeaunce, that he may auenge him of his enemies: The sworde shall deuour, it shalbe satisfied and bathed in their blood, for the Lord God of hoastes shall haue a slayne offering towarde the north, by the water of Euphrates.

11 Go vp vnto Gilead, and bryng triacle O virgin thou daughter of Egypt: but in vayne shalt thou go to surgerie, for thy wounde shall not be stopped.

12 The heathen haue hearde of thy shame, and the lande is full of thy confusion, for one strong man did stumble vpon another, and they are fallen both together.

13 These are the wordes that the Lord spake to the prophete Ieremie, concerning the comming of Nabuchodonozor the kyng of Babylon, whiche was sent to destroy the lande of Egypt:

14 Preache out thorowe the lande of Egypt, and cause it to be proclaymed at Migdol, Noph, and Thaphnis, and say: stande styll, make thee redye, for the sworde shall consume thee rounde about.

15 Howe happeneth it that thy mightie worthyes are fallen? why stoode they not fast? euen because the Lorde thrust them downe.

16 The slaughter was great, for one fell euer still vpon another: and they sayde, Up, let vs go agayne to our owne people, and to our owne naturall countrey, from the cruel sworde.