So they took all their troops and went to fight against Ishmael son of Nethaniah. They caught up with him near the large pool<n id="1" /> at Gibeon.

All those people that Ishmael had taken captive from Mizpah turned and went over to Johanan son of Kareah.

<t /><p class="bodytext">The <sc>Lordsc> spoke to Jeremiah concerning<n id="1" /> all the Judeans who were living in the land of Egypt, those in Migdol, Tahpanhes, Memphis, and in the region of southern Egypt.<n id="2" />

I sent my servants the prophets to you people over and over<n id="1" /> again warning you not to do this disgusting thing I hate.<n id="2" />

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;Because of this, the <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel who rules over all says, &#8216;I am determined to bring disaster on you,<n id="1" /> even to the point of destroying all the Judeans here.<n id="2" />

But ever since we stopped sacrificing and pouring out drink offerings to the Queen of Heaven, we have been in great need. Our people have died in wars or of starvation.&#8221;<n id="1" />

I will indeed<n id="1" /> see to it that disaster, not prosperity, happens to them.<n id="2" /> All the people of Judah who are in the land of Egypt will die in war or from starvation until not one of them is left.

<p class="poetry">The destroyer will come against every town.p> <p class="poetry">Not one town will escape.p> <p class="poetry">The towns in the valley will be destroyed.p> <p class="poetry">The cities on the high plain will be laid waste.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">I, the <sc>Lordsc>, have spoken!<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">So I will weep with sorrow for Moab.p> <p class="poetry">I will cry out in sadness for all of Moab.p> <p class="poetry">I will moan<n id="1" /> for the people of Kir Heres.p>

<p class="poetry">Oh, how shattered Moab will be!p> <p class="poetry">Oh, how her people will wail!p> <p class="poetry">Oh, how she will turn away<n id="1" /> in shame!p> <p class="poetry">Moab will become an object of ridicule,p> <p class="poetry">a terrifying sight to all the nations that surround her.&#8221;p>

<p class="poetry">I will bring terror on you from every side,&#8221;p> <p class="poetry">says the Lord <sc>Godsc> who rules over all.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;You will be scattered in every direction.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">No one will gather the fugitives back together.p>

For I solemnly swear,&#8221;<n id="1" /> says the <sc>Lordsc>, &#8220;that Bozrah<n id="2" /> will become a pile of ruins. It will become an object of horror and ridicule, an example to be used in curses.<n id="3" /> All the towns around it will lie in ruins forever.&#8221;p>

<p class="poetry">For her young men will fall in her city squares.p> <p class="poetry">All her soldiers will be destroyed at that time,&#8221;p> <p class="poetry">says the <sc>Lordsc> who rules over all.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">Their tents and their flocks will be taken away.p> <p class="poetry">Their tent curtains, equipment, and camels will be carried off.p> <p class="poetry">People will shout<n id="1" /> to them,p> <p class="poetry">&#8216;Terror is all around you!&#8217;&#8221;<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">All who encountered them devoured them.p> <p class="poetry">Their enemies who did this said, &#8216;We are not liable for punishment!p> <p class="poetry">For those people have sinned against the <sc>Lordsc>, their true pasture.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">They have sinned against the <sc>Lordsc> in whom their ancestors<n id="2" /> trusted.&#8217;<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">&#8220;Take up your battle positions all around Babylon,p> <p class="poetry">all you soldiers who are armed with bows.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Shoot<n id="2" /> all your arrows at her! Do not hold any back!<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">For she has sinned against the <sc>Lordsc>.p>

<p class="poetry">The <sc>Lordsc> says,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;Attack<n id="2" /> the land of Merathaimp> <p class="poetry">and the people who live in Pekod!<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">Pursue, kill, and completely destroy them!<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">Do just as I have commanded you!<n id="5" />p>

<p class="poetry">The <sc>Lordsc> who rules over all<n id="1" /> says,p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;The people of Israel are oppressed.p> <p class="poetry">So too are the people of Judah.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">All those who took them captive are holding them prisoners.p> <p class="poetry">They refuse to set them free.p>

<p class="poetry">Destructive forces will come against her horses and her<n id="1" /> chariots.p> <p class="poetry">Destructive forces will come against all the foreign troops within her;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">they will be as frightened as women!<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">Destructive forces will come against her treasures;p> <p class="poetry">they will be taken away as plunder!p>

<p class="poetry">Do not give her archers time to string their bowsp> <p class="poetry">or to put on their coats of armor.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Do not spare any of her young men.p> <p class="poetry">Completely destroy<n id="2" /> her whole army.p>