Jeremiah 46:13-28

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

14“Declare it in Egypt, proclaim in Migdol, and announce in Noph and Tahpanhes. Say: ‘Stand up and get ready! For the sword has devoured all around you.

15Why are your strong ones swept away? They did not stand up, because Adonai thrust him down.

16They keep stumbling, yes, falling over each other. Then they said: ‘Get up! Let’s return to our own people, to the land of our birth, away from the oppressor’s sword.’

17They cried there: ‘Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise! He let the opportune time pass.’

18As I live,” declares the King —whose Name is Adonai-Tzva’ot— “like Tabor among the mountains, or like Carmel by the sea, so surely he will come.”

19O daughter dwelling in Egypt, get your bags ready for exile! For Noph will become a ruin laid waste, uninhabited.

20Egypt is a beautiful heifer— but a biting fly is coming— from the north it is coming!

21Even her mercenaries among her are like stall-fed calves, for they also will turn back— they will flee away together, they will not stand up— for the day of their calamity has come upon them, the time of their visitation.

22Its sound will hiss like a snake, as they march with an army, and come against her as woodcutters with axes.

23They cut down her forest” —it is a declaration of Adonai— “though it was impenetrable, for they are worse than the locust —they are without number.

24The daughter of Egypt is disgraced, handed over to people of the north.”

25Adonai-Tzva’ot, the God of Israel, says: “Behold, I will punish Amon of No, Pharaoh, Egypt, with her gods and her kings—even Pharaoh, and them that trust in him.

26I will hand them over to those seeking their lives, into the hand of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and his servants. Yet afterwards it will be inhabited, as in the days of old.” It is a declaration of Adonai.

27“But you, fear not, Jacob My servant, nor be dismayed, O Israel. For behold, I will save you from afar, your offspring from the land of their exile. And Jacob will return and be at peace and secure, no one frightening him.

28Fear not, Jacob My servant” —it is a declaration of Adonai— “for I am with you. I will make a full end of all the nations where I have driven you, but I will not make a full end of you. I will discipline you with justice, but will not utterly destroy you.”