A Prophecy against Pharaoh

1In the tenth year, on the twelfth day of the tenth month, the word of the LORD {YHWH} came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh (great house) king of Egypt (land of bondage) and prophesy against him and against all Egypt. 3Speak to him and tell him that this is what the Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH} says:

Behold, I am against you,

O Pharaoh (great house) king of Egypt (land of bondage),

O great monster who lies

among his rivers,

who says, ‘The Nile is mine;

I made it myself.’

4But I will put hooks in your jaws

and cause the fish of your streams

to cling to your scales.

I will haul you up out of your rivers,

and all the fish of your streams

will cling to your scales.

5I will leave you in the desert,

you and all the fish of your streams.

You will fall on the open field

and will not be taken away

or gathered for burial.

I have given you as food

to the beasts of the earth

and the birds of the air.

6Then all the people of Egypt (land of bondage)

will know that I am the LORD {YHWH}.

For you were only a staff of reeds

to the house of Israel (he wrestles with God).

7When Israel took hold of you with their hands,

you splintered, tearing all their shoulders;

when they leaned on you,

you broke, and their backs were wrenched [and you caused their loins to shake.].a

The Desolation of Egypt

8Therefore this is what the Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH} says: I will bring a sword against you and cut off from you man and beast. 9The land of Egypt (land of bondage) will become a desolate wasteland. Then they will know that I am the LORD {YHWH}.

Because you said, ‘The Nile is mine; I made it,’ 10therefore I am against you and against your rivers. I will turn the land of Egypt (land of bondage) into a ruin, a desolate wasteland from Migdol (tower) to Syene (her veiling), and as far as the border of Cush (the upper Nile region).b 11No foot of man or beast will pass through, and it will be uninhabited for forty years.

12I will make the land of Egypt (land of bondage) a desolation among desolate lands, and her cities will lie desolate for forty years among the ruined cities. And I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them throughout the countries.

13For this is what the Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH} says: At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians (land of bondage) from the nations to which they were scattered. 14I will restore Egypt (land of bondage) from captivity (restore the fortunes of Egypt)c and bring them back to the land of Pathros (region of the south), the land of their origin. There they will be a lowly kingdom.

15Egypt will be the lowliest of kingdoms and will never again exalt itself above the nations. For I will diminish Egypt so that it will never again rule over the nations. 16Egypt will never again be an object of trust for the house of Israel (he wrestles with God), but will remind them of their iniquity in turning to the Egyptians. Then they will know that I am the Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH}.”

Egypt the Reward of Nebuchadnezzar

17In the twenty-seventh year, on the first day of the first month, the word of the LORD {YHWH} came to me, saying, 18“Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar (may Nebo protect the crown) king of Babylon (confusion by mixing) caused his army to labor strenuously against Tyre (a rock). Every head was made bald and every shoulder made raw. But he and his army received no wages from Tyre for the labor they expended on it.

19Therefore this is what the Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH} says: I will give the land of Egypt (land of bondage) to Nebuchadnezzar (may Nebo protect the crown) king of Babylon (confusion by mixing), who will carry off its wealth, seize its spoil, and remove its plunder. This will be the wages for his army. 20I have given him the land of Egypt (land of bondage) as the reward for his labor, because it was done for Me, declares the Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH}.

21In that day I will cause a horn to sprout for the house of Israel (he wrestles with God), and I will open your mouth to speak among them. Then they will know that I am the LORD {YHWH}.”