1. The Lord often told me what to say about the different nations of the world.
2. In the fourth year that Jehoiakim was king of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia defeated King Neco of Egypt in a battle at the city of Carchemish near the River Euphrates. And here is what the Lord told me to say about the Egyptian army:
3. It's time to go into battle!So grab your shields,
4. saddle your horses,and polish your spears.Put on your helmets and armour,then take your positions.
5. I can see the battle now—you are defeatedand running away,never once looking back.Terror is all around.
6. You are strong and run fast,but you can't escape.You fall in battlenear the River Euphrates.
7. What nation is this,that rises like the River Nileoverflowing its banks?
8. It is Egypt, rising with a roarlike a raging riverand saying,“I'll flood the earth,destroying cities, and killingeveryone in them.”
9. Go ahead, Egypt.Tell your chariots and cavalryto attack and fight hard.Order your troops to march out,with Ethiopians and Libyanscarrying shields,and the Lydians armed with bowsand arrows.
10. But the Lord All-Powerfulwill win this battleand take revengeon his enemies.His sword will eat themand drink their blooduntil it is full.They will be killed in the northnear the River Euphrates,as a sacrifice to the Lord.