I said to them, &#8220;Each of you must get rid of the detestable idols you keep before you,<n id="1" /> and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the <sc>Lordsc> your God.&#8221;

I acted for the sake of my reputation,<n id="1" /> so that I would not be profaned before the nations among whom they lived,<n id="2" /> before whom I revealed myself by bringing them out of the land of Egypt.<n id="3" />p>

Just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you, declares the sovereign <sc>Lordsc>.

She did not abandon the prostitution she had practiced in Egypt; for in her youth men had sex with her, fondled her virgin breasts, and ravished her.<n id="1" />

<p class="poetry">Fine linen from Egypt, woven with patterns, was used for your sailp> <p class="poetry">to serve as your banner;p> <p class="poetry">blue and purple from the coastlands of Elishah<n id="1" /> was used for your deck&#8217;s awning.p>

<p class="poetry">Then all those living in Egypt will know that I am the <sc>Lordsc>p> <p class="poetry">because they were a reed staff<n id="1" /> for the house of Israel;p>

The land of Egypt will become a desolate ruin. Then they will know that I am the <sc>Lordsc>.p> <p class="bodytext">Because he said, &#8220;The Nile is mine and I made it,&#8221;

I am against<n id="1" /> you and your waterways. I will turn the land of Egypt into an utter desolate ruin from Migdol<n id="2" /> to Syene,<n id="3" /> as far as the border with Ethiopia.

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;&#8216;For this is what the sovereign <sc>Lordsc> says: At the end of forty years<n id="1" /> I will gather Egypt from the peoples where they were scattered.

I will restore the fortunes of Egypt, and will bring them back<n id="1" /> to the land of Pathros, to the land of their origin; there they will be an insignificant kingdom.

I have given him the land of Egypt as his compensation for attacking Tyre<n id="1" />, because they did it for me, declares the sovereign <sc>Lordsc>.

<p class="poetry">&#8220;&#8216;This is what the <sc>Lordsc> says:p> <p class="poetry">Egypt&#8217;s supporters will fall;p> <p class="poetry">her confident pride will crumble.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">From Migdol to Syene<n id="2" /> they will die by the sword within her,p> <p class="poetry">declares the sovereign <sc>Lordsc>.p>

<p class="bodytext">On that day messengers will go out from me in ships to frighten overly confident Ethiopia; panic will overtake them on the day of Egypt&#8217;s doom;<n id="1" /> for beware &#8211; it is coming!p>

<p class="poetry">He and his people with him,p> <p class="poetry">the most terrifying of the nations,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">will be brought there to destroy the land.p> <p class="poetry">They will draw their swords against Egypt,p> <p class="poetry">and fill the land with corpses.p>

<p class="poetry">In Tahpanhes the day will be dark<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">when I break the yoke of Egypt there.p> <p class="poetry">Her confident pride will cease within her;p> <p class="poetry">a cloud will cover her, and her daughters will go into captivity.p>

&#8220;Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and his hordes:p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;&#8216;Who are you like in your greatness?p>

<p class="poetry">By the swords of the mighty warriors I will cause your hordes to fall &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">all of them are the most terrifying among the nations.p> <p class="poetry">They will devastate the pride of Egypt,p> <p class="poetry">and all its hordes will be destroyed.p>

<p class="poetry">When I turn the land of Egypt into desolationp> <p class="poetry">and the land is destitute of everything that fills it,p> <p class="poetry">when I strike all those who live in it,p> <p class="poetry">then they will know that I am the <sc>Lordsc>.&#8217;p>

<p class="poetry">This is a lament; they will chant it.p> <p class="poetry">The daughters of the nations will chant it.p> <p class="poetry">They will chant it over Egypt and over all her hordes,p> <p class="poetry">declares the sovereign <sc>Lordsc>.&#8221;p>

&#8220;Son of man, wail<n id="1" /> over the horde of Egypt. Bring it down;<n id="2" /> bring<n id="3" /> her<n id="4" /> and the daughters of powerful nations down to the lower parts of the earth, along with those who descend to the pit.