10. For this is the day of the Lord, the lord of Heaven’s Armies,a day of vengeance on his enemies.The sword will devour until it is satisfied,yes, until it is drunk with your blood!The Lord, the lord of Heaven’s Armies, will receive a sacrifice todayin the north country beside the Euphrates River.
11. “Go up to Gilead to get medicine,O virgin daughter of Egypt!But your many treatmentswill bring you no healing.
12. The nations have heard of your shame.The earth is filled with your cries of despair.Your mightiest warriors will run into each otherand fall down together.”
13. Then the lord gave the prophet Jeremiah this message about King Nebuchadnezzar’s plans to attack Egypt.
14. “Shout it out in Egypt!Publish it in the cities of Migdol, Memphis, and Tahpanhes!Mobilize for battle,for the sword will devour everyone around you.
15. Why have your warriors fallen?They cannot stand, for the lord has knocked them down.
16. They stumble and fall over each otherand say among themselves,‘Come, let’s go back to our people,to the land of our birth.Let’s get away from the sword of the enemy!’
17. There they will say,‘Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, is a loudmouthwho missed his opportunity!’
18. “As surely as I live,” says the King,whose name is the lord of Heaven’s Armies,“one is coming against Egyptwho is as tall as Mount Tabor,or as Mount Carmel by the sea!
19. Pack up! Get ready to leave for exile,you citizens of Egypt!The city of Memphis will be destroyed,without a single inhabitant.
20. Egypt is as sleek as a beautiful heifer,but a horsefly from the north is on its way!
21. Egypt’s mercenaries have become like fattened calves.They, too, will turn and run,for it is a day of great disaster for Egypt,a time of great punishment.
22. Egypt flees, silent as a serpent gliding away.The invading army marches in;they come against her with axes like woodsmen.
23. They will cut down her people like trees,” says the lord,“for they are more numerous than locusts.