The Prophecy about Egypt’s Defeat at Carchemish

2 He spoke about Egypt and the army of Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt which was encamped along the Euphrates River at Carchemish. Now this was the army that King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon defeated in the fourth year that Jehoiakim son of Josiah was ruling over Judah.

3 “Fall into ranks with your shields ready!

Prepare to march into battle!

4 Harness the horses to the chariots!

Mount your horses!

Put on your helmets and take your positions!

Sharpen you spears!

Put on your armor!

5 What do I see?” says the Lord.

“The soldiers are terrified.

They are retreating.

They have been defeated.

They are overcome with terror;

they desert quickly

without looking back.

6 But even the swiftest cannot get away.

Even the strongest cannot escape.

There in the north by the Euphrates River

they stumble and fall in defeat.

7 “Who is this that rises like the Nile,

like its streams turbulent at flood stage?

8 Egypt rises like the Nile,

like its streams turbulent at flood stage.

Egypt says, ‘I will arise and cover the earth.

I will destroy cities and the people who inhabit them.’

9 Go ahead and charge into battle, you horsemen!

Drive furiously, you charioteers!

Let the soldiers march out into battle,

those from Ethiopia and Libya who carry shields,

and those from Lydia who are armed with the bow.

10 But that day belongs to the Lord God who rules over all.

It is the day when he will pay back his enemies.

His sword will devour them until its appetite is satisfied!

It will drink their blood until it is full!

For the Lord God who rules over all will offer them up as a sacrifice

in the land of the north by the Euphrates River.

11 Go up to Gilead and get medicinal ointment,

you dear poor people of Egypt.

But it will prove useless no matter how much medicine you use;

there will be no healing for you.

12 The nations will hear of your devastating defeat.

your cries of distress will echo throughout the earth.

In the panic of their flight one soldier will trip over another

and both of them will fall down defeated.”