Jeremiah 26

For Egypt: against the force of Pharao Nechao, king of Egypt, who was at the river Euphrates in Charchamis, whom Nabouchodonosor king of Babylon struck down in the fourth year of Ioakim king of Iouda.

Take up weapons and shields, and draw near for battle!

Harness the horses; mount, you horsemen! Take your stand in your helmets; level the spears and put on your breastplates!

Why is it that they are terrified and are drawing back? Because their strong ones shall be cut down; in flight they fled and did not turn back, beset on every side, says the Lord.

Let not the swift flee, nor the strong escape. Toward the north, those by the Euphrates have grown weak, they have fallen.

Who is this that shall rise up like a river, and like rivers whose waters surge?

The waters of Egypt shall rise up like a river, and he said: I will go up and cover the land and destroy those who dwell in it.

Mount the horses, prepare the chariots, go out, you warriors of the Ethiopians, and Libyans armed with weapons, and Lydians: go up, bend the bow.

And that day belongs to the Lord our God, a day of vengeance, to take vengeance on his enemies; and the sword of the Lord shall devour and be filled and be drunk with their blood, for there is a sacrifice to the Lord Sabaoth from the land of the north by the river Euphrates.

Go up to Gilead and take resin for the virgin daughter of Egypt. In vain have you multiplied your remedies; there is no benefit for you.

The nations have heard your voice, and the earth was filled with your cry, for warrior against warrior grew weak; both fell together.

The things that the Lord spoke by the hand of Jeremiah, that Nabouchodonosor king of Babylon should come to cut down the land of Egypt.

Announce in Magdolon and proclaim in Memphis; say: Stand firm and prepare, for the sword has devoured your yew tree.

Why did Apis flee? Your choice calf did not stand, because the Lord made him give way.

And your multitude grew weak and fell, and each said to his neighbour: Let us rise and return to our own people, to our homeland, away from the Greek sword.

Call the name of Pharaoh Nechao king of Egypt: Saon-esbi-emoed.

As I live, says the Lord God, he shall come like Itabyrion among the mountains and like Carmel by the sea.

Make yourself vessels of exile, O daughter of Egypt who dwells there, for Memphis shall become a desolation and shall be called 'Woe', because there will be no inhabitants in her.

Egypt is a beautified heifer; a detachment from the north has come upon her.

And her hired men in her are like fattened calves fed in her; for they too turned back and fled with one accord, they did not stand, because a day of destruction came upon them and a time of their punishment.

A sound like a hissing serpent, for they shall march through sand; they shall come upon her with axes like woodcutters.

They shall cut down her forest, says the Lord God, for it cannot be reckoned, because they are more numerous than the locust and there is no counting them.

The daughter of Egypt has been put to shame; she was handed over into the hands of a people from the north.

Behold, I am punishing Amon her son, and Pharaoh, and those who trust in him.

But you, my servant Jacob, do not fear, nor be dismayed, Israel, for behold, I am saving you from afar, and your seed from their captivity; and Jacob shall return and be at rest and sleep, and there shall be no one troubling him.

Do not fear, my child Jacob, says the Lord, for I am with you; for I will make a full end among every nation to which I drove you out there, but you I will not cause to perish; and I will discipline you in judgment, and I will by no means hold you guiltless.