A Lament for Egypt

Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, prophesy and declare that this is what the Lord GOD says:

Wail,‘Alas

for that day!’

3 

For the day [is] near,

the Day of the LORD is near.

It will be a day of clouds,

a time [of doom] for the nations.[fn]

4 

A sword will come against Egypt,

and there will be anguish in Cush[fn]

when the slain fall in Egypt,

its wealth is taken away,

and its foundations are torn down.

5 

Cush, Put, and Lud,[fn]

and all the various peoples,

as well as Libya and the men of the covenant land,

will fall with [Egypt] by the sword.

6 

For this is what the LORD says:

The allies of Egypt will fall,

and her proud strength will collapse.

From Migdol to Syene[fn]

they will fall by the sword within her, declares the Lord GOD.

7 

They will be desolate among desolate lands,

and their cities will lie among ruined cities.

8 

Then they will know that I am the LORD

when I set fire to Egypt

and all her helpers are shattered.

9 

• On that day messengers will go out from Me in ships to frighten Cush out of complacency. Anguish will come upon them on the day of Egypt’s [doom].[fn] For it is indeed coming.
10 

This is what the Lord GOD says:

I will put an end to the hordes of Egypt

by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.

11 

He and his people with him,

the most ruthless of the nations,

will be brought in to destroy the land.

They will draw their swords against Egypt

and fill the land with the slain.

12 

I will make the streams dry up

and sell the land to the wicked.

By the hands of foreigners I will bring desolation

upon the land and everything in it. I, the LORD, have spoken.

13 

This is what the Lord GOD says:

I will destroy the idols

and put an end to the images in Memphis.[fn]

There will no longer be a prince vvv in Egypt,

and I will instill fear in that land

14 

I will lay waste Pathros

set fire to Zoan,

and execute judgment on Thebes.[fn]

15 

I will pour out My wrath on Pelusium,[fn]

the stronghold of Egypt,

and cut off the crowds of Thebes.

16 

I will set fire to Egypt,

Pelusium will writhe in anguish

Thebes will be split open,

and Memphis [will face] daily distress.

17 

The young men of On vvv and Pi-beseth[fn]

will fall by the sword,

and those [cities] will go into captivity.

18 

The day will be darkened in Tahpanhes

when I break the yoke of Egypt

and her proud strength comes to an end.

A cloud will cover her,

and her daughters will go into captivity.

19 

So I will execute judgment on Egypt,

and they will know that I am the LORD.”

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