12. The nations have heard of your dishonor, and your outcry fills the earth,because warrior stumbles against warriorand together both of them have fallen.
13. This 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 in Tahpanhes!Say: Take positions! Prepare yourself,for the sword devours all around you.
15. Why have your strong ones been swept away?Each has not stood,for the Lord has thrust him down.
16. He continues to stumble. Indeed, each falls over the other.They say, “Get up! Let’s return to our peopleand to the land of our birth,away from the sword that oppresses.”
17. There they will cry out,“Pharaoh king of Egypt was all noise;he let the opportune moment pass.”
18. As I live —this is the King’s declaration;Yahweh of Hosts is His name. He will come like Tabor among the mountainsand like Carmel by the sea.
19. Get your bags ready for exile,inhabitant of Daughter Egypt! For Memphis will become a desolation,uninhabited ruins.
20. Egypt is a beautiful young cow, but a horsefly from the north is coming against her.
21. Even her mercenaries among herare 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.