關於埃及的預言
1耶和華把有關列國的事告訴了耶利米先知。 2猶大王約西亞的兒子約雅敬執政第四年，埃及王法老尼哥的軍隊在幼發拉底河邊的迦基米施被巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒擊敗。論到埃及，耶和華說：
3「要預備大小盾牌，
衝向戰場。
4要套好戰車，
騎上戰馬，
擦亮矛槍，
頂盔貫甲。
5可是，我看見的是什麼呢？
他們驚慌後退，
勇士敗逃，不敢回頭，
驚恐不安。
這是耶和華說的。
6善跑者跑不掉，
強壯者逃不了，
他們仆倒在北面的幼發拉底河邊。
7「那如尼羅河漲溢，
如江水奔騰的是誰呢？
8埃及如尼羅河漲溢，
如江水奔騰。
她說，『我要漲溢，淹沒大地，
毀滅城邑和其中的居民。』
9戰馬奔馳吧！
戰車疾駛吧！
勇士啊，就是那些手拿盾牌的古實人和弗人以及箭法嫺熟的呂底亞人啊，出戰吧！
10因為這是主——萬軍之耶和華向敵人報仇的日子。
刀劍必吞噬他們，
痛飲他們的血，
因為要在北方的幼發拉底河邊向主——萬軍之耶和華獻祭。
11埃及人啊，
去基列取乳香吧！
然而，再多的良藥也無法醫治你們。
12你們的恥辱傳遍列國，
你們的哀哭響徹大地，
你們的勇士彼此碰撞，
倒在一起。」
13論到巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒要來攻打埃及的事，耶和華對耶利米先知說：
14「你要在埃及宣佈，在密奪、挪弗和答比匿宣告，
『你們要準備戰鬥，
因為刀劍要吞噬你們周圍的人。』
15你們的勇士為何仆倒？
他們無法堅立，
因為耶和華擊倒了他們，
16使他們跌跌絆絆，紛紛倒下。
他們說，『起來，我們回到同胞那裡，回到故鄉吧，
好躲避敵人的刀劍。』
17他們在那裡喊叫，
『埃及王法老只會虛張聲勢，
他已錯失良機。』」
18名叫萬軍之耶和華的王說：
「我憑我的永恆起誓，
將有一位要來，
他的氣勢如群山中的他泊山，
又像海邊的迦密山。
19住在埃及的子民啊，
收拾行裝準備流亡吧！
因為挪弗必被燒毀，
淪為廢墟，杳無人跡。
20「埃及像頭肥美的母牛犢，
但從北方卻來了牛虻。
21埃及的傭兵好像肥牛犢，
都轉身逃之夭夭，無力抵擋，
因為他們遭難、受罰的日子到了。
22「敵軍進攻的時候，
埃及必像蛇一樣嘶嘶地溜走。
敵軍必拿著斧頭蜂擁而來，
像樵夫砍樹一樣攻擊他們。
23埃及的人口雖然稠密如林，
敵軍必像無數的蝗蟲一樣掃平他們。
這是耶和華說的。
24埃及人必蒙羞，
落在北方人的手中。」
25以色列的上帝——萬軍之耶和華說：「看啊，我要懲罰提比斯的神明亞捫和埃及的其他神明、法老、首領以及依靠法老的人。 26我要把他們交在想殺他們的巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒及其官長手中。然而，日後埃及必再有人居住，如往日一樣。這是耶和華說的。
27「我的僕人雅各啊，不要害怕！
以色列人啊，不要驚慌！
因為我要從遠方把你們救回來，
使你們從流亡之地歸回。
你們必重返家園，安享太平，
無人攪擾。
28我的僕人雅各啊，不要害怕，
因為我與你同在。
我曾使你流亡到列國，
我必徹底毀滅列國，
但不會徹底毀滅你，
也不會饒過你，
我必公正地懲治你。
這是耶和華說的。」
A message about Egypt
1This is the word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations:
2Concerning Egypt:
This is the message against the army of Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt, which was defeated at Carchemish on the River Euphrates by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah:
3‘Prepare your shields, both large and small,
and march out for battle!
4Harness the horses,
mount the steeds!
Take your positions
with helmets on!
Polish your spears,
put on your armour!
5What do I see?
They are terrified,
they are retreating,
their warriors are defeated.
They flee in haste
without looking back,
and there is terror on every side,’ declares the Lord.
6‘The swift cannot flee
nor the strong escape.
In the north by the River Euphrates
they stumble and fall.
7‘Who is this that rises like the Nile,
like rivers of surging waters?
8Egypt rises like the Nile,
like rivers of surging waters.
She says, “I will rise and cover the earth;
I will destroy cities and their people.”
9Charge, you horses!
Drive furiously, you charioteers!
March on, you warriors – men of Cush46:9 That is, the upper Nile region and Put who carry shields,
men of Lydia who draw the bow.
10But that day belongs to the Lord, the Lord Almighty –
a day of vengeance, for vengeance on his foes.
The sword will devour till it is satisfied,
till it has quenched its thirst with blood.
For the Lord, the Lord Almighty, will offer sacrifice
in the land of the north by the River Euphrates.
11‘Go up to Gilead and get balm,
Virgin Daughter Egypt.
But you try many medicines in vain;
there is no healing for you.
12The nations will hear of your shame;
your cries will fill the earth.
One warrior will stumble over another;
both will fall down together.’
13This is the message the Lord spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the coming of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to attack Egypt:
14‘Announce this in Egypt, and proclaim it in Migdol;
proclaim it also in Memphis and Tahpanhes:
“Take your positions and get ready,
for the sword devours those around you.”
15Why will your warriors be laid low?
They cannot stand, for the Lord will push them down.
16They will stumble repeatedly;
they will fall over each other.
They will say, “Get up, let us go back
to our own people and our native lands,
away from the sword of the oppressor.”
17There they will exclaim,
“Pharaoh king of Egypt is only a loud noise;
he has missed his opportunity.”
18‘As surely as I live,’ declares the King,
whose name is the Lord Almighty,
‘one will come who is like Tabor among the mountains,
like Carmel by the sea.
19Pack your belongings for exile,
you who live in Egypt,
for Memphis will be laid waste
and lie in ruins without inhabitant.
20‘Egypt is a beautiful heifer,
but a gadfly is coming
against her from the north.
21The mercenaries in her ranks
are like fattened calves.
They too will turn and flee together,
they will not stand their ground,
for the day of disaster is coming upon them,
the time for them to be punished.
22Egypt will hiss like a fleeing serpent
as the enemy advances in force;
they will come against her with axes,
like men who cut down trees.
23They will chop down her forest,’ declares the Lord,
‘dense though it be.
They are more numerous than locusts,
they cannot be counted.
24Daughter Egypt will be put to shame,
given into the hands of the people of the north.’
25The Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘I am about to bring punishment on Amon god of Thebes, on Pharaoh, on Egypt and her gods and her kings, and on those who rely on Pharaoh. 26I will give them into the hands of those who want to kill them – Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and his officers. Later, however, Egypt will be inhabited as in times past,’ declares the Lord.
27‘Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant;
do not be dismayed, Israel.
I will surely save you out of a distant place,
your descendants from the land of their exile.
Jacob will again have peace and security,
and no-one will make him afraid.
28Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant,
for I am with you,’
declares the Lord.
‘Though I completely destroy all the nations
among which I scatter you,
I will not completely destroy you.
I will discipline you but only in due measure;
I will not let you go entirely unpunished.’
