“ Son of man, turn your attention to Pharaoh Hophra. He is king of Egypt. Prophesy against him and the whole land of Egypt.

“人子啊，你要向埃及王法老预言攻击他和埃及全地，

“人子啊，你要面向埃及王法老，向他和埃及全地说预言。

“人子啊，你要面向埃及王法老，向他和埃及全地说预言。

“人子啊，你要说预言斥责埃及王法老和埃及全国，

“人子啊！你要面向埃及王法老，说预言攻击他和埃及全地。

「人子啊，你要向埃及王法老預言攻擊他和埃及全地，

「人子啊，你要面向埃及王法老，向他和埃及全地說預言。

「人子啊，你要面向埃及王法老，向他和埃及全地說預言。

「人子啊，你要說預言斥責埃及王法老和埃及全國，

“人子啊！你要面向埃及王法老，說預言攻擊他和埃及全地。

『人子啊，你要向埃及王法老板着臉，傳神言攻擊他，也攻擊埃及全地，

人子歟、其面埃及王法老、及埃及四境而預言曰、

人子、指埃及王法老、及埃及四境、而言未來事。

人子、爾面向伊及王法老、向向或作指彼與伊及全地言未來事、

“ Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.

“ Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt;

“ Son of man, turn and face Egypt and prophesy against Pharaoh the king and all the people of Egypt.

“ Son of man, face Pharaoh king of Egypt and prophesy against him and against all of Egypt.

“ Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.

“ Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against all Egypt.

Son of man, set thy face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against all Egypt;

“ Son of man, turn your face toward Pharaoh king of Egypt and prophesy against him and against all of Egypt.

Son of man, set thy face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against all Egypt:

“ Son of man, turn toward Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.

“ Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.

“ Son of man, turn your attention to the mountains of Israel. Prophesy against them.

Here is what the Lord says about Egypt. Here is his message against the army of Pharaoh Necho. He was king of Egypt. Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, won the battle over Necho’s army. That happened at Carchemish on the Euphrates River. It was in the fourth year that Jehoiakim was king of Judah. He was the son of Josiah. The message says,“ Egyptians, prepare your shields! Prepare large and small shields alike! March out for battle!Get the horses and chariots ready to ride! Take up your battle positions! Put on your helmets! Shine up your spears! Put on your armor!What do I see? The Egyptians are terrified. They are pulling back. Their soldiers are losing. They run away as fast as they can. They do not look back. There is terror on every side,” announces the Lord.“ Those who run fast can’t get away. Those who are strong can’t escape. In the north by the Euphrates River they trip and fall.“ Who is this that rises like the Nile River? Who rises like rivers of rushing waters?Egypt rises like the Nile River. It rises like rivers of rushing waters. Egypt says,‘ I will rise and cover the earth. I’ll destroy cities and their people.’Charge, you horses! Drive fast, you chariot drivers! March on, you soldiers! March on, you men of Cush and Put who carry shields. March on, you men of Lydia who shoot arrows.But that day belongs to me. I am the Lord who rules over all. It is a day for me to pay back my enemies. My sword will eat until it is satisfied. It will drink until it is not thirsty for blood anymore. I am the Lord. I am the Lord who rules over all. I will offer a sacrifice. I will offer it in the land of the north by the Euphrates River.“ People of Egypt, go up to Gilead and get some healing lotion. You may try many medicines, but you will not be healed. There isn’t any healing for you.The nations will hear about your shame. Your cries of pain will fill the earth. One soldier will trip over another. Both of them will fall down together.”Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, was coming to attack Egypt. Here is the message the Lord spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about it. He said,“ Egyptians, here is what I want you to announce in your land. Announce it in the city of Migdol. Also announce it in Memphis and Tahpanhes. Say,‘ Take up your battle positions! Get ready! The sword eats up those around you.’Why are your soldiers lying on the ground? They can’t stand, because I bring them down.They will trip again and again. They will fall over one another. They will say,‘ Get up. Let’s go back home. Let’s return to our own people and our own lands. Let’s get away from the swords that will bring us great harm.’

The Lord says,‘ I am going to hand over Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt. I will hand him over to his enemies who want to kill him. In the same way, I handed over King Zedekiah to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. He was the enemy who wanted to kill Zedekiah.’ ”

How terrible it will be for the land whose armies are like large numbers of flying insects! That land is along the rivers of Cush.Its people send messengers on the Nile River. They travel over the water in papyrus boats. Messengers, hurry back home! Go back to your people, who are tall and have smooth skin. Everyone is afraid of them. They are warriors whose language is different from ours. Their land is divided up by rivers.Pay attention, all you people of the world! Listen, all you who live on earth! Banners will be lifted up on the mountains. And you will see them. Trumpets will be blown. And you will hear them.The Lord says to me,“ I will look down from heaven, where I live. I will be as quiet as summer heat in the sunshine. I will be as quiet as a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.”A farmer cuts off new growth with pruning knives. He cuts down spreading branches and takes them away. He does it before the grapes are harvested. That’s when the blooms are gone and the grapes are ripe. In the same way, the Lord will cut off the nations that are gathered against his people.Their dead bodies will be left for the birds of the mountains to eat. They will be left for the wild animals. The birds will eat the dead bodies all summer long. The wild animals will eat them all through the winter.At that time gifts will be brought to the Lord who rules over all. The people who are tall and have smooth skin will bring them. Everyone is afraid of those people. They are warriors whose language is different from ours. Their land is divided up by rivers. They will bring their gifts to Mount Zion. That’s where the Lord who rules over all has put his Name.Here is a prophecy against Egypt that the Lord gave me. The Lord is coming to Egypt. He’s riding on a cloud that moves very fast. The statues of the gods in Egypt tremble with fear because of him. The hearts of the people there melt with fear.The Lord says,“ I will stir up one Egyptian against another. Relatives will fight against relatives. Neighbors will fight against one another. Cities will fight against cities. Kingdoms will fight against one another.The people of Egypt will lose hope. I will keep them from doing what they plan to do. They will ask their gods for advice. They will turn to the spirits of dead people for help. They will go to people who get messages from those who have died. They will ask for advice from people who talk to the spirits of the dead.I will hand the Egyptians over to a mean and unkind master. A powerful king will rule over them,” announces the Lord. He is the Lord who rules over all.The waters of the Nile River will dry up. The bottom of it will be cracked and dry.Its canals will stink. And the streams of Egypt will get smaller and smaller until they dry up. The tall grass that grows along the river will dry up.So will the plants along the banks of the Nile. Even the planted fields along the Nile will dry up. Everything that grows there will blow away and disappear.The fishermen will moan. All those who drop hooks into the Nile will weep. Those who throw their nets on the water will become very sad.Those who make clothes out of flax will lose hope. So will those who weave fine linen.Those who work with cloth will be unhappy. And all those who work for money will be sick at heart.The officials of the city of Zoan are very foolish. Pharaoh’s wise men give advice that doesn’t make any sense. How can they dare to say to Pharaoh,“ We’re among the wise men”? How can they say to him,“ We’re like the advisers to the kings of long ago”?Pharaoh, where are your wise men now? Let them tell you what the Lord who rules over all has planned against Egypt.The officials of Zoan have become foolish. The leaders of Memphis have been lied to. The most important leaders in Egypt have led its people astray.The Lord has given them a spirit that makes them feel dizzy. They make Egypt unsteady in everything it does. Egypt is like a person who drinks too much. He throws up and then walks around in the mess he’s made.No one in Egypt can do anything to help them. Its elders and important leaders can’t help them. Its prophets and priests can’t do anything. Those who rule over others can’t help. And those who bow down to them can’t help either.In days to come, the people of Egypt will become weak. The Lord who rules over all will raise his hand against them. Then they will tremble with fear.The people of Judah will bring terror to the Egyptians. Everyone in Egypt who hears the name of Judah will be terrified. That’s because of what the Lord who rules over all is planning to do to them.

“ Son of man, turn your attention to Jerusalem. Preach against the temple. Prophesy against the land of Israel.

A message from the Lord came to me. The Lord said,“ Son of man, prophesy. Say,‘ The Lord and King says,“‘ “Cry out,‘ A terrible day is coming!’The day is near. The day of the Lord is coming. It will be a cloudy day. The nations have been sentenced to die.I will send Nebuchadnezzar’s sword against Egypt. Cush will suffer terribly. Many will die in Egypt. Then its wealth will be carried away. Its foundations will be torn down.The people of Cush, Libya, Lydia, Kub and the whole land of Arabia will be killed by swords. So will the Jews who live in Egypt. They went there from the covenant land of Israel. And the Egyptians will die too.” ’ ”The Lord says,“ Those who were going to help Egypt will die. The strength Egypt was so proud of will fail. Its people will be killed by swords from Migdol all the way to Aswan,” announces the Lord and King.“ Egypt will be more empty than any other land. Its cities will be completely destroyed.I will set Egypt on fire. All those who came to help it will be crushed. Then they will know that I am the Lord.“ At that time I will send messengers out in ships. They will terrify the people of Cush who are so contented. Cush will suffer greatly when Egypt falls. And you can be sure it will fall.”The Lord and King says,“ I will put an end to the huge armies of Egypt. I will use Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, to do this.He and his armies will attack the land and destroy it. They will not show its people any pity at all. They will use their swords against Egypt. They will fill the land with dead bodies.I will dry up the waters of the Nile River. I will sell the land to an evil nation. I will use the power of outsiders to destroy the land and everything in it. I have spoken. I am the Lord.”The Lord and King says,“ I will destroy the statues of Egypt’s gods. I will put an end to the gods the people in Memphis worship. Egypt will not have princes anymore. I will spread fear all through the land.I will completely destroy Upper Egypt. I will set Zoan on fire. I will punish Thebes.I will pour out my burning anger on Pelusium. It is a fort in eastern Egypt. I will wipe out the huge army of Thebes.I will set Egypt on fire. Pelusium will groan with terrible pain. Thebes will be ripped apart. Memphis will suffer greatly because of everything that happens.The young men of Heliopolis and Bubastis will be killed by swords. Their people will be taken away as prisoners.I will break Egypt’s power over other lands. That will be a dark day for Tahpanhes. There the strength Egypt was so proud of will come to an end. Egypt will be covered with clouds. The people in its villages will be taken away as prisoners.So I will punish Egypt. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”It was the 11th year since King Jehoiachin had been brought to Babylon as a prisoner. On the seventh day of the first month, a message from the Lord came to me. The Lord said,“ Son of man, I have broken the powerful arm of Pharaoh Hophra, the king of Egypt. No bandages have been put on his arm to heal it. It has not been put in a cast. So his arm will not be strong enough to use a sword.I am against Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. I will break both his arms. I will break his healthy arm and his broken one. His sword will fall from his hand.I will scatter the people of Egypt among the nations. I will send them to other countries.I will make the arms of the king of Babylon stronger. I will put my sword in his hand. But I will break the arms of Pharaoh. And he will groan in front of Nebuchadnezzar. He will cry out like someone dying from his wounds.I will make the arms of the king of Babylon stronger. But the arms of Pharaoh will not be able to help Egypt. I will put my sword in Nebuchadnezzar’s hand. He will get ready to use it against Egypt. Then they will know that I am the Lord.I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations. I will send them to other countries. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”It was the 11th year since King Jehoiachin had been brought to Babylon as a prisoner. On the first day of the third month, a message from the Lord came to me. The Lord said,“ Son of man, speak to Pharaoh Hophra, the king of Egypt. Also speak to his huge army. Tell him,“‘ Who can be compared with your majesty?Think about what happened to Assyria. Once it was like a cedar tree in Lebanon. It had beautiful branches that provided shade for the forest. It grew very high. Its top was above all the leaves.The waters fed it. Deep springs made it grow tall. Their streams flowed all around its base. They made their way to all the trees in the fields.So it grew higher than any other tree in the fields. It grew more limbs. Its branches grew long. They spread because they had plenty of water.All the birds in the sky made their nests in its limbs. All the wild animals had their babies under its branches. All the great nations lived in its shade.Its spreading branches made it majestic and beautiful. Its roots went down deep to where there was plenty of water.The cedar trees in my garden were no match for it. The juniper trees could not equal its limbs. The plane trees could not compare with its branches. No tree in my garden could match its beauty.I gave it many branches. They made it beautiful. All the trees in my Garden of Eden were jealous of it.’ ”So the Lord and King says,“ The great cedar tree grew very high. Its top was above all the leaves. It was proud of how tall it was.So I handed it over to the Babylonian ruler of the nations. I wanted him to punish it because it was so evil. I decided to get rid of it.The Babylonians cut it down and left it there. They did not show it any pity at all. Some of its branches fell on the mountains. Others fell in all the valleys. The branches lay broken in all the stream beds in the land. All the nations on earth came out from under its shade. And they went on their way.All the birds settled on the fallen tree. All the wild animals lived among its branches.So trees that receive plenty of water must never grow so high that it makes them proud. Their tops must never be above the rest of the leaves. No other trees that receive a lot of water must ever grow that high. They are appointed to die and go down into the earth below. They will join human beings, who go down to the place of the dead.”The Lord and King says,“ Assyria was like a cedar tree. But I brought it down to the place of the dead. On that day I dried up the deep springs of water and covered them. I held its streams back. I shut off its rich supply of water. Because of that, Lebanon was dressed in gloom as if it were clothes. All the trees in the fields dried up.I brought the cedar tree down to the place of the dead. It joined the other nations that go down there. I made the nations on earth shake because of the sound of its fall. Then all the trees of Eden were comforted in the earth below. That included the finest and best trees in Lebanon. And it included all the trees that received plenty of water.Others also went down along with the cedar tree into the place of the dead. They included those who had been killed by swords. They also included the armed men among the nations who lived in its shade.“ Which one of the trees of Eden can be compared with you? What tree is as glorious and majestic as you are? But you too will be brought down to the earth below. There you will join the trees of Eden. You will lie down with those who have not been circumcised. You will be among those who were killed by swords.“ That is what will happen to Pharaoh and his huge armies,” announces the Lord and King.It was the 12th year since King Jehoiachin had been brought to Babylon as a prisoner. On the first day of the 12th month, a message from the Lord came to me. The Lord said,“ Son of man, sing a song of sadness about Pharaoh Hophra, the king of Egypt. Tell him,“‘ You are like a lion among the nations. You are like a monster in the sea. You move around wildly in your rivers. You churn the water with your feet. You make the streams muddy.’ ”The Lord and King says,“ I will use a large crowd of people to throw my net over you. They will pull you up in it.Then I will throw you on the land. I will toss you into an open field. I will let all the birds in the sky settle on you. I will let all the wild animals eat you up.I will scatter the parts of your body all over the mountains. I will fill the valleys with your remains.I will soak the land with your blood. It will flow all the way to the mountains. The valleys will be filled with the parts of your body.When I wipe you out, I will put a cover over the heavens. I will darken the stars. I will cover the sun with a cloud. The moon will stop shining.I will darken all the bright lights in the sky above you. I will bring darkness over your land,” announces the Lord and King.“ The hearts of many people will be troubled. That is because I will destroy you among the nations. You had never known anything about those lands before.Many nations will be shocked when they see what has happened to you. Their kings will tremble with fear when they find out about it. I will get ready to use Nebuchadnezzar as my sword against them. On the day you fall from power, each of the kings will tremble with fear. Each will be afraid he is the next to die.”The Lord and King says,“ I will send against you the sword of the king of Babylon.I will destroy your huge army. They will be killed by the swords of Babylon’s mighty soldiers. The soldiers will not show them any pity. They will bring Egypt down in all its pride. Its huge armies will be thrown down.I will destroy all its cattle from the places where they have plenty of water. Human feet will never stir up the water again. The hooves of cattle will not make it muddy anymore.I will let the waters of Egypt settle. I will make its streams flow like olive oil,” announces the Lord and King.“ I will turn Egypt into an empty land. I will strip away everything in it. I will strike down everyone who lives there. Then they will know that I am the Lord.“ That is the song of sadness people will sing about Egypt. Women from other nations will sing it. They will weep over Egypt and its huge armies,” announces the Lord and King.A message from the Lord came to me. King Jehoiachin had been brought to Babylon as a prisoner. On the 15th day of a month 12 years after that, the message came. The Lord said,“ Son of man, weep over the huge army of Egypt. Tell the Egyptians they will go down into the earth below. The women singers from the other mighty nations will go down into the grave along with them and others.Tell them,‘ Are you any better than others? Since you are not, go down there. Lie down with those who have not been circumcised.’They will fall dead among those who were killed by swords. Nebuchadnezzar is ready to use his sword against them. Let Egypt be dragged off together with its huge armies.The mighty leaders who are already in the place of the dead will talk about Egypt. They will also speak about the nations that were going to help it. They will say,‘ They have come down here. They are lying down with those who had not been circumcised. They are here with those who were killed by swords.’“ Assyria is there with its whole army. Its king is surrounded by the graves of all its people who were killed by swords.Their graves are deep down in the pit. Assyria’s army lies around the grave of its king. All those who spread terror while they were alive are now dead. They were killed by swords.“ Elam is also there. Its huge armies lie around the grave of its king. All those who spread terror while they were alive are now dead. They were killed by swords. They had not been circumcised. They went down into the earth below. Their shame is like the shame of others who go down into the grave.A bed is made for Elam’s king among the dead. His huge armies lie around his grave. They had not been circumcised. They were killed by swords. They had spread terror while they were alive. So now their shame is like the shame of others who go down into the grave. They lie down among the dead.“ Meshek and Tubal are also there. Their huge armies lie around the graves of their kings. None of them had been circumcised. They had spread their terror while they were alive. So they were killed by swords.But they do not lie down with the other dead soldiers of long ago. Those soldiers and their weapons had gone down into the place of the dead. Their swords had been placed under their heads. Their shields rest on their bones. The soldiers of Meshek and Tubal do not lie down with them. This is true even though they had also spread terror while they were alive.“ Pharaoh Hophra, you too will be broken. You will lie down among those who had not been circumcised. You will be there with those who were killed by swords.“ Edom is also there. So are its kings and all its princes. In spite of their power, they lie down with those who were killed by swords. They lie down with those who had not been circumcised. They are there with others who went down into the grave.“ All the princes of the north are there too. So are all the people of Sidon. They went down into the grave in dishonor. While they were alive, they used their power to spread terror. They had never been circumcised. But now they lie down there with those who were killed by swords. Their shame is like the shame of others who go down into the grave.“ Pharaoh and his whole army will see all of them. That will comfort him even though his huge armies were killed by swords.” This is what the Lord and King announces.“ I let Pharaoh spread terror while he was alive. But now he and his huge armies will be buried with those who had not been circumcised. They will lie down there with those who were killed by swords,” announces the Lord and King.

“ Son of man, turn your attention to the city of Sidon. Prophesy against it.Say,‘ The Lord and King says,“‘ “Sidon, I am against your people. Among you I will display my glory. I will punish your people. Among you I will prove that I am holy. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

“ The days are coming when I will judge people,” announces the Lord.“ I will punish all those who are circumcised only in their bodies.That includes the people of Egypt, Judah, Edom, Ammon and Moab. It also includes all those who live in the desert in places far away. None of the people in these nations is really circumcised. And not even the people of Israel are circumcised in their hearts.”

The people of Egypt might not go up there to take part. Then they won’t have any rain either. That’s the plague the Lord will send on the nations that don’t go to celebrate the Feast of Booths.Egypt will be punished. So will all the other nations that don’t celebrate the feast.

But Egypt will be deserted. Edom will become a dry and empty desert. They did terrible harm to the people of Judah. My people were not guilty of doing anything wrong. But Egypt and Edom spilled their blood anyway.

Sargon, the king of Assyria, sent his highest commander to the city of Ashdod. He attacked it and captured it.Three years earlier the Lord had spoken to Isaiah, the son of Amoz. The Lord had said,“ Take off the rough clothing you are wearing. And take off your sandals.” So Isaiah did. He went around barefoot and naked.After Ashdod was captured, the Lord said,“ My servant Isaiah has gone around barefoot and naked for three years. He is a sign and reminder to Egypt and Cush about what will happen to them.The king of Assyria will lead prisoners away from Egypt and Cush. Young people and old people alike will be taken away. Like Isaiah, they will be barefoot and naked. Their backsides will be bare. So the Egyptians will be put to shame.People trusted in Cush to help them. They bragged about what Egypt could do for them. But they will lose heart and be put to shame.At that time the people who live on the coast of Philistia will speak up. They will say,‘ See what has happened to those we depended on! We ran to them for help. We wanted them to save us from the king of Assyria. Now how can we escape?’ ”

“ Son of man, turn your attention to the Ammonites. Prophesy against them.

He sent me to Judah’s kings and officials. He told me to go to Jerusalem and the towns of Judah. He wanted me to tell them they would be destroyed. Then people would be shocked because of them. They would make fun of them. They would use their name in a curse. And that’s how things still are today.Here is a list of the other kings and nations he sent me to. Pharaoh, the king of Egypt his attendants, his officials, all his people

“ Son of man, turn your attention to Judah in the south. Preach against it. Prophesy against its forests.

In Tahpanhes a message from the Lord came to Jeremiah. The Lord said,“ Make sure the Jews are watching you. Then get some large stones. Go to the entrance to Pharaoh’s house in Tahpanhes. Bury the stones in the clay under the brick walkway there.Then tell the Jews,‘ The Lord who rules over all is the God of Israel. He says,“ I will send for my servant Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. And I will set his throne over these stones that are buried here. He will set up his royal tent over them.He will come and attack Egypt. He will bring death to those I have appointed to die. He will take away as prisoners those I have appointed to be taken away. And he will kill with swords those I have appointed to be killed.He will set the temples of the gods of Egypt on fire. He will burn down their temples. He will take away the statues of their gods. Nebuchadnezzar will be like a shepherd who picks his coat clean of lice. Nebuchadnezzar will pick Egypt clean and then depart.At Heliopolis in Egypt he will smash the sacred pillars to pieces. And he will burn down the temples of the gods of Egypt.” ’ ”