Ezekiel 25

A Message for Ammon

1Then this message came to me from the Lord: 2“Son of man, turn and face the land of Ammon and prophesy against its people. 3Give the Ammonites this message from the Sovereign Lord: Hear the word of the Sovereign Lord! Because you cheered when my Temple was defiled, mocked Israel in her desolation, and laughed at Judah as she went away into exile, 4I will allow nomads from the eastern deserts to overrun your country. They will set up their camps among you and pitch their tents on your land. They will harvest all your fruit and drink the milk from your livestock. 5And I will turn the city of Rabbah into a pasture for camels, and all the land of the Ammonites into a resting place for sheep and goats. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

6“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you clapped and danced and cheered with glee at the destruction of my people, 7I will raise my fist of judgment against you. I will give you as plunder to many nations. I will cut you off from being a nation and destroy you completely. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

A Message for Moab

8“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because the people of Moab*25:8 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads Moab and Seir. have said that Judah is just like all the other nations, 9I will open up their eastern flank and wipe out their glorious frontier towns—Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim. 10And I will hand Moab over to nomads from the eastern deserts, just as I handed over Ammon. Yes, the Ammonites will no longer be counted among the nations. 11In the same way, I will bring my judgment down on the Moabites. Then they will know that I am the Lord.

A Message for Edom

12“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: The people of Edom have sinned greatly by avenging themselves against the people of Judah. 13Therefore, says the Sovereign Lord, I will raise my fist of judgment against Edom. I will wipe out its people and animals with the sword. I will make a wasteland of everything from Teman to Dedan. 14I will accomplish this by the hand of my people of Israel. They will carry out my vengeance with anger, and Edom will know that this vengeance is from me. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!

A Message for Philistia

15“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: The people of Philistia have acted against Judah out of bitter revenge and long-standing contempt. 16Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will raise my fist of judgment against the land of the Philistines. I will wipe out the Kerethites and utterly destroy the people who live by the sea. 17I will execute terrible vengeance against them to punish them for what they have done. And when I have inflicted my revenge, they will know that I am the Lord.”

Ezekiel 26

A Message for Tyre

1On February 3, during the twelfth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity,*26:1 Hebrew In the eleventh year, on the first day of the month, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar year. Since an element is missing in the date formula here, scholars have reconstructed this probable reading: In the eleventh [month of the twelfth] year, on the first day of the month. This reading would put this message on February 3, 585 b.c.; also see note on 1:1. this message came to me from the Lord: 2“Son of man, Tyre has rejoiced over the fall of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Ha! She who was the gateway to the rich trade routes to the east has been broken, and I am the heir! Because she has been made desolate, I will become wealthy!’

3“Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am your enemy, O Tyre, and I will bring many nations against you, like the waves of the sea crashing against your shoreline. 4They will destroy the walls of Tyre and tear down its towers. I will scrape away its soil and make it a bare rock! 5It will be just a rock in the sea, a place for fishermen to spread their nets, for I have spoken, says the Sovereign Lord. Tyre will become the prey of many nations, 6and its mainland villages will be destroyed by the sword. Then they will know that I am the Lord.

7“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: From the north I will bring King Nebuchadnezzar*26:7 Hebrew Nebuchadrezzar, a variant spelling of Nebuchadnezzar. of Babylon against Tyre. He is king of kings and brings his horses, chariots, charioteers, and great army. 8First he will destroy your mainland villages. Then he will attack you by building a siege wall, constructing a ramp, and raising a roof of shields against you. 9He will pound your walls with battering rams and demolish your towers with sledgehammers. 10The hooves of his horses will choke the city with dust, and the noise of the charioteers and chariot wheels will shake your walls as they storm through your broken gates. 11His horsemen will trample through every street in the city. They will butcher your people, and your strong pillars will topple.

12“They will plunder all your riches and merchandise and break down your walls. They will destroy your lovely homes and dump your stones and timbers and even your dust into the sea. 13I will stop the music of your songs. No more will the sound of harps be heard among your people. 14I will make your island a bare rock, a place for fishermen to spread their nets. You will never be rebuilt, for I, the Lord, have spoken. Yes, the Sovereign Lord has spoken!

The Effect of Tyre’s Destruction

15“This is what the Sovereign Lord says to Tyre: The whole coastline will tremble at the sound of your fall, as the screams of the wounded echo in the continuing slaughter. 16All the seaport rulers will step down from their thrones and take off their royal robes and beautiful clothing. They will sit on the ground trembling with horror at your destruction. 17Then they will wail for you, singing this funeral song:

“O famous island city,

once ruler of the sea,

how you have been destroyed!

Your people, with their naval power,

once spread fear around the world.

18Now the coastlands tremble at your fall.

The islands are dismayed as you disappear.

19“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will make Tyre an uninhabited ruin, like many others. I will bury you beneath the terrible waves of enemy attack. Great seas will swallow you. 20I will send you to the pit to join those who descended there long ago. Your city will lie in ruins, buried beneath the earth, like those in the pit who have entered the world of the dead. You will have no place of respect here in the land of the living. 21I will bring you to a terrible end, and you will exist no more. You will be looked for, but you will never again be found. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”

Ezekiel 27

The End of Tyre’s Glory

1Then this message came to me from the Lord: 2“Son of man, sing a funeral song for Tyre, 3that mighty gateway to the sea, the trading center of the world. Give Tyre this message from the Sovereign Lord:

“You boasted, O Tyre,

‘My beauty is perfect!’

4You extended your boundaries into the sea.

Your builders made your beauty perfect.

5You were like a great ship

built of the finest cypress from Senir.*27:5 Or Hermon.

They took a cedar from Lebanon

to make a mast for you.

6They carved your oars

from the oaks of Bashan.

Your deck of pine from the coasts of Cyprus*27:6 Hebrew Kittim.

was inlaid with ivory.

7Your sails were made of Egypt’s finest linen,

and they flew as a banner above you.

You stood beneath blue and purple awnings

made bright with dyes from the coasts of Elishah.

8Your oarsmen came from Sidon and Arvad;

your helmsmen were skilled men from Tyre itself.

9Wise old craftsmen from Gebal did the caulking.

Ships from every land came with goods to barter for your trade.

10“Men from distant Persia, Lydia, and Libya*27:10 Hebrew Paras, Lud, and Put. served in your great army. They hung their shields and helmets on your walls, giving you great honor. 11Men from Arvad and Helech stood on your walls. Your towers were manned by men from Gammad. Their shields hung on your walls, completing your beauty.

12“Tarshish sent merchants to buy your wares in exchange for silver, iron, tin, and lead. 13Merchants from Greece,*27:13 Hebrew Javan. Tubal, and Meshech brought slaves and articles of bronze to trade with you.

14“From Beth-togarmah came riding horses, chariot horses, and mules, all in exchange for your goods. 15Merchants came to you from Dedan.*27:15 Greek version reads Rhodes. Numerous coastlands were your captive markets; they brought payment in ivory tusks and ebony wood.

16“Syria*27:16 Hebrew Aram; some manuscripts read Edom. sent merchants to buy your rich variety of goods. They traded turquoise, purple dyes, embroidery, fine linen, and jewelry of coral and rubies. 17Judah and Israel traded for your wares, offering wheat from Minnith, figs,*27:17 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain. honey, olive oil, and balm.

18“Damascus sent merchants to buy your rich variety of goods, bringing wine from Helbon and white wool from Zahar. 19Greeks from Uzal*27:19 Hebrew Vedan and Javan from Uzal. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain. came to trade for your merchandise. Wrought iron, cassia, and fragrant calamus were bartered for your wares.

20“Dedan sent merchants to trade their expensive saddle blankets with you. 21The Arabians and the princes of Kedar sent merchants to trade lambs and rams and male goats in exchange for your goods. 22The merchants of Sheba and Raamah came with all kinds of spices, jewels, and gold in exchange for your wares.

23“Haran, Canneh, Eden, Sheba, Asshur, and Kilmad came with their merchandise, too. 24They brought choice fabrics to trade—blue cloth, embroidery, and multicolored carpets rolled up and bound with cords. 25The ships of Tarshish were your ocean caravans. Your island warehouse was filled to the brim!

The Destruction of Tyre

26“But look! Your oarsmen

have taken you into stormy seas!

A mighty eastern gale

has wrecked you in the heart of the sea!

27Everything is lost—

your riches and wares,

your sailors and pilots,

your ship builders, merchants, and warriors.

On the day of your ruin,

everyone on board sinks into the depths of the sea.

28Your cities by the sea tremble

as your pilots cry out in terror.

29All the oarsmen abandon their ships;

the sailors and pilots stand on the shore.

30They cry aloud over you

and weep bitterly.

They throw dust on their heads

and roll in ashes.

31They shave their heads in grief for you

and dress themselves in burlap.

They weep for you with bitter anguish

and deep mourning.

32As they wail and mourn over you,

they sing this sad funeral song:

‘Was there ever such a city as Tyre,

now silent at the bottom of the sea?

33The merchandise you traded

satisfied the desires of many nations.

Kings at the ends of the earth

were enriched by your trade.

34Now you are a wrecked ship,

broken at the bottom of the sea.

All your merchandise and crew

have gone down with you.

35All who live along the coastlands

are appalled at your terrible fate.

Their kings are filled with horror

and look on with twisted faces.

36The merchants among the nations

shake their heads at the sight of you,*27:36 Hebrew hiss at you.

for you have come to a horrible end

and will exist no more.’”

Ezekiel 28

A Message for Tyre’s King

1Then this message came to me from the Lord: 2“Son of man, give the prince of Tyre this message from the Sovereign Lord:

“In your great pride you claim, ‘I am a god!

I sit on a divine throne in the heart of the sea.’

But you are only a man and not a god,

though you boast that you are a god.

3You regard yourself as wiser than Daniel

and think no secret is hidden from you.

4With your wisdom and understanding you have amassed great wealth—

gold and silver for your treasuries.

5Yes, your wisdom has made you very rich,

and your riches have made you very proud.

6“Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

Because you think you are as wise as a god,

7I will now bring against you a foreign army,

the terror of the nations.

They will draw their swords against your marvelous wisdom

and defile your splendor!

8They will bring you down to the pit,

and you will die in the heart of the sea,

pierced with many wounds.

9Will you then boast, ‘I am a god!’

to those who kill you?

To them you will be no god

but merely a man!

10You will die like an outcast*28:10 Hebrew will die the death of the uncircumcised.

at the hands of foreigners.

I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”

11Then this further message came to me from the Lord: 12“Son of man, sing this funeral song for the king of Tyre. Give him this message from the Sovereign Lord:

“You were the model of perfection,

full of wisdom and exquisite in beauty.

13You were in Eden,

the garden of God.

Your clothing was adorned with every precious stone*28:13 The identification of some of these gemstones is uncertain.—

red carnelian, pale-green peridot, white moonstone,

blue-green beryl, onyx, green jasper,

blue lapis lazuli, turquoise, and emerald—

all beautifully crafted for you

and set in the finest gold.

They were given to you

on the day you were created.

14I ordained and anointed you

as the mighty angelic guardian.*28:14 Hebrew guardian cherub; similarly in 28:16.

You had access to the holy mountain of God

and walked among the stones of fire.

15“You were blameless in all you did

from the day you were created

until the day evil was found in you.

16Your rich commerce led you to violence,

and you sinned.

So I banished you in disgrace

from the mountain of God.

I expelled you, O mighty guardian,

from your place among the stones of fire.

17Your heart was filled with pride

because of all your beauty.

Your wisdom was corrupted

by your love of splendor.

So I threw you to the ground

and exposed you to the curious gaze of kings.

18You defiled your sanctuaries

with your many sins and your dishonest trade.

So I brought fire out from within you,

and it consumed you.

I reduced you to ashes on the ground

in the sight of all who were watching.

19All who knew you are appalled at your fate.

You have come to a terrible end,

and you will exist no more.”

A Message for Sidon

20Then another message came to me from the Lord: 21“Son of man, turn and face the city of Sidon and prophesy against it. 22Give the people of Sidon this message from the Sovereign Lord:

“I am your enemy, O Sidon,

and I will reveal my glory by what I do to you.

When I bring judgment against you

and reveal my holiness among you,

everyone watching will know

that I am the Lord.

23I will send a plague against you,

and blood will be spilled in your streets.

The attack will come from every direction,

and your people will lie slaughtered within your walls.

Then everyone will know

that I am the Lord.

24No longer will Israel’s scornful neighbors

prick and tear at her like briers and thorns.

For then they will know

that I am the Sovereign Lord.

Restoration for Israel

25“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: The people of Israel will again live in their own land, the land I gave my servant Jacob. For I will gather them from the distant lands where I have scattered them. I will reveal to the nations of the world my holiness among my people. 26They will live safely in Israel and build homes and plant vineyards. And when I punish the neighboring nations that treated them with contempt, they will know that I am the Lord their God.”

Ezekiel 29

A Message for Egypt

1On January 7,*29:1 Hebrew On the twelfth day of the tenth month, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. This event occurred on January 7, 587 b.c.; also see note on 1:1. during the tenth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, this message came to me from the Lord: 2“Son of man, turn and face Egypt and prophesy against Pharaoh the king and all the people of Egypt. 3Give them this message from the Sovereign Lord:

“I am your enemy, O Pharaoh, king of Egypt—

you great monster, lurking in the streams of the Nile.

For you have said, ‘The Nile River is mine;

I made it for myself.’

4I will put hooks in your jaws

and drag you out on the land

with fish sticking to your scales.

5I will leave you and all your fish

stranded in the wilderness to die.

You will lie unburied on the open ground,

for I have given you as food to the wild animals and birds.

6All the people of Egypt will know that I am the Lord,

for to Israel you were just a staff made of reeds.

7When Israel leaned on you,

you splintered and broke

and stabbed her in the armpit.

When she put her weight on you,

you collapsed, and her legs gave way.

8“Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will bring an army against you, O Egypt, and destroy both people and animals. 9The land of Egypt will become a desolate wasteland, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.

“Because you said, ‘The Nile River is mine; I made it,’ 10I am now the enemy of both you and your river. I will make the land of Egypt a totally desolate wasteland, from Migdol to Aswan, as far south as the border of Ethiopia.*29:10 Hebrew from Migdol to Syene as far as the border of Cush. 11For forty years not a soul will pass that way, neither people nor animals. It will be completely uninhabited. 12I will make Egypt desolate, and it will be surrounded by other desolate nations. Its cities will be empty and desolate for forty years, surrounded by other ruined cities. I will scatter the Egyptians to distant lands.

13“But this is what the Sovereign Lord also says: At the end of the forty years I will bring the Egyptians home again from the nations to which they have been scattered. 14I will restore the prosperity of Egypt and bring its people back to the land of Pathros in southern Egypt from which they came. But Egypt will remain an unimportant, minor kingdom. 15It will be the lowliest of all the nations, never again great enough to rise above its neighbors.

16“Then Israel will no longer be tempted to trust in Egypt for help. Egypt’s shattered condition will remind Israel of how sinful she was to trust Egypt in earlier days. Then Israel will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.”

Nebuchadnezzar to Conquer Egypt

17On April 26, the first day of the new year,*29:17 Hebrew On the first day of the first month, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. This event occurred on April 26, 571 b.c.; also see note on 1:1. during the twenty-seventh year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, this message came to me from the Lord: 18“Son of man, the army of King Nebuchadnezzar*29:18 Hebrew Nebuchadrezzar, a variant spelling of Nebuchadnezzar; also in 29:19. of Babylon fought so hard against Tyre that the warriors’ heads were rubbed bare and their shoulders were raw and blistered. Yet Nebuchadnezzar and his army won no plunder to compensate them for all their work. 19Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. He will carry off its wealth, plundering everything it has so he can pay his army. 20Yes, I have given him the land of Egypt as a reward for his work, says the Sovereign Lord, because he was working for me when he destroyed Tyre.

21“And the day will come when I will cause the ancient glory of Israel to revive,*29:21 Hebrew I will cause a horn to sprout for the house of Israel. and then, Ezekiel, your words will be respected. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”

Ezekiel 30

A Sad Day for Egypt

1This is another message that came to me from the Lord: 2“Son of man, prophesy and give this message from the Sovereign Lord:

“Weep and wail

for that day,

3for the terrible day is almost here—

the day of the Lord!

It is a day of clouds and gloom,

a day of despair for the nations.

4A sword will come against Egypt,

and those who are slaughtered will cover the ground.

Its wealth will be carried away

and its foundations destroyed.

The land of Ethiopia*30:4 Hebrew Cush; similarly in 30:9. will be ravished.

5Ethiopia, Libya, Lydia, all Arabia,*30:5 Hebrew Cush, Put, Lud, all Arabia, Cub. Cub is otherwise unknown and may be another spelling for Lub (Libya).

and all their other allies

will be destroyed in that war.

6“For this is what the Lord says:

All of Egypt’s allies will fall,

and the pride of her power will end.

From Migdol to Aswan*30:6 Hebrew to Syene.

they will be slaughtered by the sword,

says the Sovereign Lord.

7Egypt will be desolate,

surrounded by desolate nations,

and its cities will be in ruins,

surrounded by other ruined cities.

8And the people of Egypt will know that I am the Lord

when I have set Egypt on fire

and destroyed all their allies.

9At that time I will send swift messengers in ships

to terrify the complacent Ethiopians.

Great panic will come upon them

on that day of Egypt’s certain destruction.

Watch for it!

It is sure to come!

10“For this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

By the power of King Nebuchadnezzar*30:10 Hebrew Nebuchadrezzar, a variant spelling of Nebuchadnezzar. of Babylon,

I will destroy the hordes of Egypt.

11He and his armies—the most ruthless of all—

will be sent to demolish the land.

They will make war against Egypt

until slaughtered Egyptians cover the ground.

12I will dry up the Nile River

and sell the land to wicked men.

I will destroy the land of Egypt and everything in it

by the hands of foreigners.

I, the Lord, have spoken!

13“This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

I will smash the idols*30:13a The Hebrew term (literally round things) probably alludes to dung. of Egypt

and the images at Memphis.*30:13b Hebrew Noph; also in 30:16.

There will be no rulers left in Egypt;

terror will sweep the land.

14I will destroy southern Egypt,*30:14a Hebrew Pathros.

set fire to Zoan,

and bring judgment against Thebes.*30:14b Hebrew No; also in 30:15, 16.

15I will pour out my fury on Pelusium,*30:15 Hebrew Sin; also in 30:16.

the strongest fortress of Egypt,

and I will stamp out

the hordes of Thebes.

16Yes, I will set fire to all Egypt!

Pelusium will be racked with pain;

Thebes will be torn apart;

Memphis will live in constant terror.

17The young men of Heliopolis and Bubastis*30:17a Hebrew of Awen and Pi-beseth. will die in battle,

and the women*30:17b Or and her cities. will be taken away as slaves.

18When I come to break the proud strength of Egypt,

it will be a dark day for Tahpanhes, too.

A dark cloud will cover Tahpanhes,

and its daughters will be led away as captives.

19And so I will greatly punish Egypt,

and they will know that I am the Lord.”

The Broken Arms of Pharaoh

20On April 29,*30:20 Hebrew On the seventh day of the first month, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. This event occurred on April 29, 587 b.c.; also see note on 1:1. during the eleventh year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, this message came to me from the Lord: 21“Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. His arm has not been put in a cast so that it may heal. Neither has it been bound up with a splint to make it strong enough to hold a sword. 22Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am the enemy of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt! I will break both of his arms—the good arm along with the broken one—and I will make his sword clatter to the ground. 23I will scatter the Egyptians to many lands throughout the world. 24I will strengthen the arms of Babylon’s king and put my sword in his hand. But I will break the arms of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he will lie there mortally wounded, groaning in pain. 25I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, while the arms of Pharaoh fall useless to his sides. And when I put my sword in the hand of Babylon’s king and he brings it against the land of Egypt, Egypt will know that I am the Lord. 26I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, dispersing them throughout the earth. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”

Ezekiel 31

Egypt Compared to Fallen Assyria

1On June 21,*31:1 Hebrew On the first day of the third month, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. This event occurred on June 21, 587 b.c.; also see note on 1:1. during the eleventh year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, this message came to me from the Lord: 2“Son of man, give this message to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and all his hordes:

“To whom would you compare your greatness?

3You are like mighty Assyria,

which was once like a cedar of Lebanon,

with beautiful branches that cast deep forest shade

and with its top high among the clouds.

4Deep springs watered it

and helped it to grow tall and luxuriant.

The water flowed around it like a river,

streaming to all the trees nearby.

5This great tree towered high,

higher than all the other trees around it.

It prospered and grew long thick branches

because of all the water at its roots.

6The birds nested in its branches,

and in its shade all the wild animals gave birth.

All the great nations of the world

lived in its shadow.

7It was strong and beautiful,

with wide-spreading branches,

for its roots went deep

into abundant water.

8No other cedar in the garden of God

could rival it.

No cypress had branches to equal it;

no plane tree had boughs to compare.

No tree in the garden of God

came close to it in beauty.

9Because I made this tree so beautiful,

and gave it such magnificent foliage,

it was the envy of all the other trees of Eden,

the garden of God.

10“Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because Egypt*31:10 Hebrew you. became proud and arrogant, and because it set itself so high above the others, with its top reaching to the clouds, 11I will hand it over to a mighty nation that will destroy it as its wickedness deserves. I have already discarded it. 12A foreign army—the terror of the nations—has cut it down and left it fallen on the ground. Its branches are scattered across the mountains and valleys and ravines of the land. All those who lived in its shadow have gone away and left it lying there.

13“The birds roost on its fallen trunk,

and the wild animals lie among its branches.

14Let the tree of no other nation

proudly exult in its own prosperity,

though it be higher than the clouds

and it be watered from the depths.

For all are doomed to die,

to go down to the depths of the earth.

They will land in the pit

along with everyone else on earth.

15“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When Assyria went down to the grave,*31:15 Hebrew to Sheol; also in 31:16, 17. I made the deep springs mourn. I stopped its rivers and dried up its abundant water. I clothed Lebanon in black and caused the trees of the field to wilt. 16I made the nations shake with fear at the sound of its fall, for I sent it down to the grave with all the others who descend to the pit. And all the other proud trees of Eden, the most beautiful and the best of Lebanon, the ones whose roots went deep into the water, took comfort to find it there with them in the depths of the earth. 17Its allies, too, were all destroyed and had passed away. They had gone down to the grave—all those nations that had lived in its shade.

18“O Egypt, to which of the trees of Eden will you compare your strength and glory? You, too, will be brought down to the depths with all these other nations. You will lie there among the outcasts*31:18 Hebrew among the uncircumcised. who have died by the sword. This will be the fate of Pharaoh and all his hordes. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”

Ezekiel 32

A Warning for Pharaoh

1On March 3,*32:1 Hebrew On the first day of the twelfth month, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. This event occurred on March 3, 585 b.c.; also see note on 1:1. during the twelfth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, this message came to me from the Lord: 2“Son of man, mourn for Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and give him this message:

“You think of yourself as a strong young lion among the nations,

but you are really just a sea monster,

heaving around in your own rivers,

stirring up mud with your feet.

3Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

I will send many people

to catch you in my net

and haul you out of the water.

4I will leave you stranded on the land to die.

All the birds of the heavens will land on you,

and the wild animals of the whole earth

will gorge themselves on you.

5I will scatter your flesh on the hills

and fill the valleys with your bones.

6I will drench the earth with your gushing blood

all the way to the mountains,

filling the ravines to the brim.

7When I blot you out,

I will veil the heavens and darken the stars.

I will cover the sun with a cloud,

and the moon will not give you its light.

8I will darken the bright stars overhead

and cover your land in darkness.

I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!

9“I will disturb many hearts when I bring news of your downfall to distant nations you have never seen. 10Yes, I will shock many lands, and their kings will be terrified at your fate. They will shudder in fear for their lives as I brandish my sword before them on the day of your fall. 11For this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“The sword of the king of Babylon

will come against you.

12I will destroy your hordes with the swords of mighty warriors—

the terror of the nations.

They will shatter the pride of Egypt,

and all its hordes will be destroyed.

13I will destroy all your flocks and herds

that graze beside the streams.

Never again will people or animals

muddy those waters with their feet.

14Then I will let the waters of Egypt become calm again,

and they will flow as smoothly as olive oil,

says the Sovereign Lord.

15And when I destroy Egypt

and strip you of everything you own

and strike down all your people,

then you will know that I am the Lord.

16Yes, this is the funeral song

they will sing for Egypt.

Let all the nations mourn.

Let them mourn for Egypt and its hordes.

I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”

Egypt Falls into the Pit

17On March 17,*32:17 Hebrew On the fifteenth day of the month, presumably in the twelfth month of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar (see 32:1). This would put this message at the end of King Jehoiachin’s twelfth year of captivity, on March 17, 585 b.c.; also see note on 1:1. Greek version reads On the fifteenth day of the first month, which would put this message on April 27, 586 b.c., at the beginning of Jehoiachin’s twelfth year. during the twelfth year, another message came to me from the Lord: 18“Son of man, weep for the hordes of Egypt and for the other mighty nations.*32:18 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain. For I will send them down to the world below in company with those who descend to the pit. 19Say to them,

‘O Egypt, are you lovelier than the other nations?

No! So go down to the pit and lie there among the outcasts.*32:19 Hebrew the uncircumcised; also in 32:21, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32.’

20The Egyptians will fall with the many who have died by the sword, for the sword is drawn against them. Egypt and its hordes will be dragged away to their judgment. 21Down in the grave*32:21 Hebrew in Sheol. mighty leaders will mockingly welcome Egypt and its allies, saying, ‘They have come down; they lie among the outcasts, hordes slaughtered by the sword.’

22“Assyria lies there surrounded by the graves of its army, those who were slaughtered by the sword. 23Their graves are in the depths of the pit, and they are surrounded by their allies. They struck terror in the hearts of people everywhere, but now they have been slaughtered by the sword.

24“Elam lies there surrounded by the graves of all its hordes, those who were slaughtered by the sword. They struck terror in the hearts of people everywhere, but now they have descended as outcasts to the world below. Now they lie in the pit and share the shame of those who have gone before them. 25They have a resting place among the slaughtered, surrounded by the graves of all their hordes. Yes, they terrorized the nations while they lived, but now they lie in shame with others in the pit, all of them outcasts, slaughtered by the sword.

26“Meshech and Tubal are there, surrounded by the graves of all their hordes. They once struck terror in the hearts of people everywhere. But now they are outcasts, all slaughtered by the sword. 27They are not buried in honor like their fallen heroes, who went down to the grave*32:27a Hebrew to Sheol. with their weapons—their shields covering their bodies*32:27b The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain. and their swords beneath their heads. Their guilt rests upon them because they brought terror to everyone while they were still alive.

28“You too, Egypt, will lie crushed and broken among the outcasts, all slaughtered by the sword.

29“Edom is there with its kings and princes. Mighty as they were, they also lie among those slaughtered by the sword, with the outcasts who have gone down to the pit.

30“All the princes of the north and the Sidonians are there with others who have died. Once a terror, they have been put to shame. They lie there as outcasts with others who were slaughtered by the sword. They share the shame of all who have descended to the pit.

31“When Pharaoh and his entire army arrive, he will take comfort that he is not alone in having his hordes killed, says the Sovereign Lord. 32Although I have caused his terror to fall upon all the living, Pharaoh and his hordes will lie there among the outcasts who were slaughtered by the sword. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”