| Berean Study Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1This is the word of the LORD about the nations—the word that came to Jeremiah the prophet | 1The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet about the nations: |
| 2concerning Egypt and the army of Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt, which was defeated at Carchemish on the Euphrates River by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah: | 2About Egypt and the army of Pharaoh Neco, Egypt's king, which was defeated at Carchemish on the Euphrates River by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon in the fourth year of Judah's King Jehoiakim son of Josiah: |
| 3“Deploy your shields, small and large; advance for battle! | 3Deploy small shields and large; draw near for battle! |
| 4Harness the horses; mount the steeds; take your positions with helmets on! Polish your spears; put on armor! | 4Harness the horses; mount the steeds; take your positions with helmets on! Polish the lances; put on armor! |
| 5Why am I seeing this? They are terrified, they are retreating; their warriors are defeated, they flee in haste without looking back; terror is on every side!” declares the LORD. | 5Why have I seen this? They are terrified, they are retreating, their warriors are crushed, they flee headlong, they never look back, terror is on every side! This is the LORD's declaration. |
| 6“The swift cannot flee, and the warrior cannot escape! In the north by the River Euphrates they stumble and fall. | 6The swift cannot flee, and the warrior cannot escape! In the north by the bank of the Euphrates River, they stumble and fall. |
| 7Who is this, rising like the Nile, like rivers whose waters churn? | 7Who is this, rising like the Nile, like rivers whose waters churn? |
| 8Egypt rises like the Nile, and its waters churn like rivers, boasting, ‘I will rise and cover the earth; I will destroy the cities and their people.’ | 8Egypt rises like the Nile, and its waters churn like rivers. He boasts, "I will go up, I will cover the earth; I will destroy cities with their residents." |
| 9Advance, O horses! Race furiously, O chariots! Let the warriors come forth—Cush and Put carrying their shields, men of Lydia drawing the bow. | 9Rise up, you cavalry! Race furiously, you chariots! Let the warriors go out-- Cush and Put, who are able to handle shields, and the Ludim, who are able to handle and string the bow. |
| 10For that day belongs to the Lord GOD of Hosts, a day of vengeance against His foes. The sword will devour until it is satisfied, until it is quenched with their blood. For the Lord GOD of Hosts will hold a sacrifice in the land of the north by the River Euphrates. | 10That day belongs to the Lord, the GOD of Hosts, a day of vengeance to avenge Himself against His adversaries. The sword will devour and be satisfied; it will drink its fill of their blood, because it will be a sacrifice to the Lord, the GOD of Hosts, in the northern land by the Euphrates River. |
| 11Go up to Gilead for balm, O Virgin Daughter of Egypt! In vain you try many remedies, but for you there is no healing. | 11Go up to Gilead and get balm, Virgin Daughter Egypt! You have multiplied remedies in vain; there is no healing for you. |
| 12The nations have heard of your shame, and your outcry fills the earth, because warrior stumbles over warrior and both of them have fallen together.” | 12The nations have heard of your dishonor, and your outcry fills the earth, because warrior stumbles against warrior and together both of them have fallen. |
| 13This is the word that the LORD spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the coming of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to strike the land of Egypt: | 13This is the word the LORD spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the coming of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to defeat the land of Egypt: |
| 14“Announce it in Egypt, and proclaim it in Migdol; proclaim it in Memphis and Tahpanhes: ‘Take your positions and prepare yourself, for the sword devours those around you.’ | 14Announce it in Egypt, and proclaim it in Migdol! Proclaim it in Memphis and in Tahpanhes! Say: Take positions! Prepare yourself, for the sword devours all around you. |
| 15Why have your warriors been laid low? They cannot stand, for the LORD has thrust them down. | 15Why have your strong ones been swept away? Each has not stood, for the LORD has thrust him down. |
| 16They continue to stumble; indeed, they have fallen over one another. They say, ‘Get up! Let us return to our people and to the land of our birth, away from the sword of the oppressor.’ | 16He continues to stumble. Indeed, each falls over the other. They say, "Get up! Let's return to our people and to the land of our birth, away from the sword that oppresses." |
| 17There they will cry out: ‘Pharaoh king of Egypt was all noise; he has let the appointed time pass him by.’ | 17There they will cry out, "Pharaoh king of Egypt was all noise; he let the opportune moment pass." |
| 18As surely as I live, declares the King, whose name is the LORD of Hosts, there will come one who is like Tabor among the mountains and like Carmel by the sea. | 18As I live-- this is the King's declaration; Yahweh of Hosts is His name. He will come like Tabor among the mountains and like Carmel by the sea. |
| 19Pack your bags for exile, O daughter dwelling in Egypt! For Memphis will be laid waste, destroyed and uninhabited. | 19Get your bags ready for exile, inhabitant of Daughter Egypt! For Memphis will become a desolation, uninhabited ruins. |
| 20Egypt is a beautiful heifer, but a gadfly from the north is coming against her. | 20Egypt is a beautiful young cow, but a horsefly from the north is coming against her. |
| 21Even the mercenaries among her are like fattened calves. They too will turn back; together they will flee, they will not stand their ground, for the day of calamity is coming upon them—the time of their punishment. | 21Even her mercenaries among her are like stall-fed calves. They too will turn back; together they will flee; they will not take their stand, for the day of their calamity is coming on them, the time of their punishment. |
| 22Egypt will hiss like a fleeing serpent, for the enemy will advance in force; with axes they will come against her like woodsmen cutting down trees. | 22Egypt will hiss like a slithering snake, for the enemy will come with an army; with axes they will come against her like those who cut trees. |
| 23They will chop down her forest, declares the LORD, dense though it may be, for they are more numerous than locusts; they cannot be counted. | 23They will cut down her forest-- this is the LORD's declaration-- though it is dense, for they are more numerous than locusts; they cannot be counted. |
| 24The Daughter of Egypt will be put to shame; she will be delivered into the hands of the people of the north.” | 24Daughter Egypt will be put to shame, handed over to a northern people. |
| 25The LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Behold, I am about to punish Amon god of Thebes, along with Pharaoh, Egypt with her gods and kings, and those who trust in Pharaoh. | 25The LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: "I am about to punish Amon, god of Thebes, along with Pharaoh, Egypt, her gods, and her kings--Pharaoh and those trusting in him. |
| 26I will deliver them into the hands of those who seek their lives—of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and his officers. But after this, Egypt will be inhabited as in days of old, declares the LORD. | 26I will hand them over to those who want to take their lives--to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and his officers. But after this, it will be inhabited again as in ancient times." This is the LORD's declaration. |
| 27But you, O Jacob My servant, do not be afraid, and do not be dismayed, O Israel. For I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their captivity! Jacob will return to quiet and ease, with no one to make him afraid. | 27But you, My servant Jacob, do not be afraid, and do not be discouraged, Israel, for without fail I will save you from far away and your descendants, from the land of their captivity! Jacob will return and have calm and quiet with no one to frighten him. |
| 28And you, My servant Jacob, do not be afraid, declares the LORD, for I am with you. Though I will completely destroy all the nations to which I have banished you, I will not completely destroy you. Yet I will discipline you justly, and will by no means leave you unpunished.” | 28And you, My servant Jacob, do not be afraid-- this is the LORD's declaration-- for I will be with you. I will bring destruction on all the nations where I have banished you, but I will not bring destruction on you. I will discipline you with justice, and I will by no means leave you unpunished. |
|
