8. And the people of Egypt will know that I am the lordwhen I have set Egypt on fireand destroyed all their allies.
9. At that time I will send swift messengers in shipsto terrify the complacent Ethiopians.Great panic will come upon themon that day of Egypt’s certain destruction.Watch for it!It is sure to come!
10. “For this is what the Sovereign lord says:By the power of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon,I will destroy the hordes of Egypt.
11. He and his armies—the most ruthless of all—will be sent to demolish the land.They will make war against Egyptuntil slaughtered Egyptians cover the ground.
12. I will dry up the Nile Riverand sell the land to wicked men.I will destroy the land of Egypt and everything in itby the hands of foreigners.I, the lord, have spoken!
13. “This is what the Sovereign lord says:I will smash the idols of Egyptand the images at Memphis.There will be no rulers left in Egypt;terror will sweep the land.
14. I will destroy southern Egypt,set fire to Zoan,and bring judgment against Thebes.
15. I will pour out my fury on Pelusium,the strongest fortress of Egypt,and I will stamp outthe hordes of Thebes.
16. Yes, I will set fire to all Egypt!Pelusium will be racked with pain;Thebes will be torn apart;Memphis will live in constant terror.
17. The young men of Heliopolis and Bubastis will die in battle,and the women will be taken away as slaves.
18. When I come to break the proud strength of Egypt,it will be a dark day for Tahpanhes, too.A dark cloud will cover Tahpanhes,and its daughters will be led away as captives.
19. And so I will greatly punish Egypt,and they will know that I am the lord.”
20. On April 29, during the eleventh year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, this message came to me from the lord:
21. “Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. His arm has not been put in a cast so that it may heal. Neither has it been bound up with a splint to make it strong enough to hold a sword.
22. Therefore, this is what the Sovereign lord says: I am the enemy of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt! I will break both of his arms—the good arm along with the broken one—and I will make his sword clatter to the ground.
23. I will scatter the Egyptians to many lands throughout the world.
24. I will strengthen the arms of Babylon’s king and put my sword in his hand. But I will break the arms of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he will lie there mortally wounded, groaning in pain.