18. "As I live," declares the King Whose name is the Lord of hosts, "Surely one shall come who looms up like Tabor among the mountains, Or like Carmel by the sea.
19. "Make your baggage ready for exile, O daughter dwelling in Egypt, For Memphis will become a desolation; It will even be burned down and bereft of inhabitants.
20. "Egypt is a pretty heifer, But a horsefly is coming from the north-it is coming!
21. "Also her mercenaries in her midst Are like fattened calves, For even they too have turned back and have fled away together; They did not stand their ground. For the day of their calamity has come upon them, The time of their punishment.
22. "Its sound moves along like a serpent; For they move on like an army And come to her as woodcutters with axes.
23. "They have cut down her forest," declares the Lord; "Surely it will no more be found, Even though they are now more numerous than locusts And are without number.
24. "The daughter of Egypt has been put to shame, Given over to the power of the people of the north."