10. For that day belongs to my Lord Adonai-Tzva’ot, as a day of vengeance, to avenge Himself against His foes. The sword will devour and be satisfied and will drink its fill of their blood. For it will be a sacrifice for my Lord Adonai-Tzva’ot, in the northern land by the river Euphrates.
11. Go up into Gilead and get balm, O virgin daughter of Egypt. In vain you use many medicines— there is no cure for you.
12. Nations have heard of your shame, and your outcry fills the earth. For warrior stumbles over warrior— both fall down together.”
13. The word that Adonai spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the coming of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon to strike the land of Egypt:
14. “Declare it in Egypt, proclaim in Migdol, and announce in Noph and Tahpanhes. Say: ‘Stand up and get ready! For the sword has devoured all around you.
15. Why are your strong ones swept away? They did not stand up, because Adonai thrust him down.
16. They keep stumbling, yes, falling over each other. Then they said: ‘Get up! Let’s return to our own people, to the land of our birth, away from the oppressor’s sword.’
17. They cried there: ‘Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise! He let the opportune time pass.’
18. As I live,” declares the King —whose Name is Adonai-Tzva’ot— “like Tabor among the mountains, or like Carmel by the sea, so surely he will come.”
19. O daughter dwelling in Egypt, get your bags ready for exile! For Noph will become a ruin laid waste, uninhabited.
20. Egypt is a beautiful heifer— but a biting fly is coming— from the north it is coming!
21. Even her mercenaries among her are like stall-fed calves, for they also will turn back— they will flee away together, they will not stand up— for the day of their calamity has come upon them, the time of their visitation.
22. Its sound will hiss like a snake, as they march with an army, and come against her as woodcutters with axes.
23. They cut down her forest” —it is a declaration of Adonai— “though it was impenetrable, for they are worse than the locust —they are without number.
24. The daughter of Egypt is disgraced, handed over to people of the north.”