22-24. “Egypt will slither and hiss like a snakeas the enemy army comes in force.They will rush in, swinging axeslike lumberjacks cutting down trees.They’ll level the country”—God’s Decree—“nothingand no one standing for as far as you can see.The invaders will be a swarm of locusts,innumerable, past counting.Daughter Egypt will be ravished,raped by vandals from the north.”
25-26. God-of-the-Angel-Armies, the God of Israel, says, “Watch out when I visit doom on the god Amon of Thebes, Egypt and its gods and kings, Pharaoh and those who trust in him. I’ll turn them over to those who are out to kill them, to Nebuchadnezzar and his military. Egypt will be set back a thousand years. Eventually people will live there again.” God’s Decree.
27-28. “But you, dear Jacob my servant, you have nothing to fear.Israel, there’s no need to worry.Look up! I’ll save you from that far country,I’ll get your children out of the land of exile.Things are going to be normal again for Jacob,safe and secure, smooth sailing.Yes, dear Jacob my servant, you have nothing to fear.Depend on it, I’m on your side.I’ll finish off all the godless nationsamong which I’ve scattered you,But I won’t finish you off.I have more work left to do on you.I’ll punish you, but fairly.No, I’m not finished with you yet.”