20. “Egypt is like a beautiful young cow.But a horsefly is comingfrom the north to attack her.
21. The hired soldiers in Egypt’s armyare like fat calves.They will all turn and run away together.They will not stand strong against the attack.Their time of destruction is coming.They will soon be punished.
22. Egypt is like a hissing snake that is trying to escape.The enemy comes closer and closer.They will come against Egypt with axes.They are like men who cut down trees.
23. They will chop down Egypt’s armyas if it were a great forest,” says the Lord.“There are more enemy soldiers than locusts.There are too many soldiers to count.
24. The people of Egypt will be ashamed.They will be handed over to the enemy from the north.”
25. The Lord of heaven’s armies, the God of Israel, says: “Very soon I will punish Amon, the god of Thebes. And I will punish Egypt, her king and her gods. And I will punish the people who depend on the king.
26. I will let all those people be defeated by their enemies. And those enemies want to kill them. I will give them to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and his officers. But in the future, Egypt will live in peace as it once did,” says the Lord.
27. “People of Jacob, my servants, don’t be afraid.Don’t be frightened, Israel.I will surely save you from those faraway places.I will save your children from the lands where they are captives.The people of Jacob will have peace and safety again.And no one will make them afraid.
28. People of Jacob, my servants, do not be afraid.I am with you,” says the Lord.“I scattered you to many different nations.And I will completely destroy all those nations.But I will not completely destroy you.I will punish you fairly.But I cannot let you escape your punishment.”