The Desolation of Egypt

8 Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: I will bring a sword against you and cut off from you man and beast. 9 The land of Egypt will become a desolate wasteland. Then they will know that I am the LORD.

Because you said, ‘The Nile is mine; I made it,’ 10 therefore I am against you and against your rivers. I will turn the land of Egypt into a ruin, a desolate wasteland from Migdol to Syene, and as far as the border of Cush.[fn] 11 No foot of man or beast will pass through, and it will be uninhabited for forty years.

12 I will make the land of Egypt a desolation among desolate lands, and her cities will lie desolate for forty years among the ruined cities. And I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them throughout the countries.

13 For this is what the Lord GOD says: At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the nations to which they were scattered. 14 I will restore Egypt from captivity [fn] and bring them back to the land of Pathros, the land of their origin. There they will be a lowly kingdom.

15 Egypt will be the lowliest of kingdoms and will never again exalt itself above the nations. For I will diminish Egypt so that it will never again rule over the nations. 16 Egypt will never again be an object of trust for the house of Israel, but will remind them of their iniquity in turning to the Egyptians. Then they will know that I am the Lord GOD.”