1. In the tenth year, on the twelfth day of the tenth month, the word of the Lord came to me:
2. Son of man, turn your face toward Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.
3. Say to him: Thus says the Lord God:Pay attention! I am against you,Pharaoh, king of Egypt,Great dragon crouchingin the midst of the Nile,Who says, “The Nile belongs to me;I made it myself!”
4. I will put hooks in your jawsand make all the fish of your NileCling to your scales;I will drag you up from your Nile,With all the fish of your Nileclinging to your scales.
5. I will hurl you into the wilderness,you and all the fish of your Nile.You will fall into an open field,you will not be picked up or gathered together.To the beasts of the earthand the birds of the skyI give you as food.
6. Then all the inhabitants of Egyptwill know that I am the Lord.Because you were a staff of reedsfor the house of Israel:
7. When they took hold of you, you would splinter,throwing shoulders out of joint.When they leaned on you, you would break,pitching them down headlong.
8. Therefore thus says the Lord God:Look! I am bringing the sword against youto cut off from you people and animals.
9. The land of Egypt shall become a desolate waste;then they shall know that I am the Lord.Because you said, “The Nile belongs to me;I made it!”
10. Beware! I am against youand against your Nile.I will turn the land of Egypt into ruins,into a dry, desolate waste,From Migdol to Syene,up to the border of Ethiopia.
11. No foot shall pass through it,no human being or beast cross it;it will remain uninhabited for forty years.