A Prophecy Against Ammon

25 The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, set your face against(A) the Ammonites(B) and prophesy against them.(C) Say to them, ‘Hear the word of the Sovereign Lord. This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you said “Aha!(D)” over my sanctuary when it was desecrated(E) and over the land of Israel when it was laid waste and over the people of Judah when they went into exile,(F) therefore I am going to give you to the people of the East(G) as a possession. They will set up their camps(H) and pitch their tents among you; they will eat your fruit and drink your milk.(I) I will turn Rabbah(J) into a pasture for camels and Ammon into a resting place for sheep.(K) Then you will know that I am the Lord. For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you have clapped your hands(L) and stamped your feet, rejoicing with all the malice of your heart against the land of Israel,(M) therefore I will stretch out my hand(N) against you and give you as plunder(O) to the nations. I will wipe you out from among the nations and exterminate you from the countries. I will destroy(P) you, and you will know that I am the Lord.(Q)’”

A Prophecy Against Moab

“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because Moab(R) and Seir(S) said, “Look, Judah has become like all the other nations,” therefore I will expose the flank of Moab, beginning at its frontier towns—Beth Jeshimoth(T), Baal Meon(U) and Kiriathaim(V)—the glory of that land. 10 I will give Moab along with the Ammonites to the people of the East as a possession, so that the Ammonites will not be remembered(W) among the nations; 11 and I will inflict punishment on Moab. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’”(X)

A Prophecy Against Edom

12 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because Edom(Y) took revenge on Judah and became very guilty by doing so, 13 therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will stretch out my hand(Z) against Edom and kill both man and beast.(AA) I will lay it waste, and from Teman(AB) to Dedan(AC) they will fall by the sword.(AD) 14 I will take vengeance on Edom by the hand of my people Israel, and they will deal with Edom in accordance with my anger(AE) and my wrath; they will know my vengeance, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”(AF)

A Prophecy Against Philistia

15 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because the Philistines(AG) acted in vengeance and took revenge with malice(AH) in their hearts, and with ancient hostility sought to destroy Judah, 16 therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to stretch out my hand against the Philistines,(AI) and I will wipe out the Kerethites(AJ) and destroy those remaining along the coast.(AK) 17 I will carry out great vengeance(AL) on them and punish(AM) them in my wrath. Then they will know that I am the Lord,(AN) when I take vengeance on them.(AO)’”

A Prophecy Against Tyre

26 In the eleventh month of the twelfth[a] year, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me:(AP) “Son of man, because Tyre(AQ) has said of Jerusalem, ‘Aha!(AR) The gate to the nations is broken, and its doors have swung open to me; now that she lies in ruins I will prosper,’ therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, Tyre, and I will bring many nations against you, like the sea(AS) casting up its waves. They will destroy(AT) the walls of Tyre(AU) and pull down her towers; I will scrape away her rubble and make her a bare rock. Out in the sea(AV) she will become a place to spread fishnets,(AW) for I have spoken, declares the Sovereign Lord. She will become plunder(AX) for the nations,(AY) and her settlements on the mainland will be ravaged by the sword. Then they will know that I am the Lord.

“For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: From the north I am going to bring against Tyre Nebuchadnezzar[b](AZ) king of Babylon, king of kings,(BA) with horses and chariots,(BB) with horsemen and a great army. He will ravage your settlements on the mainland with the sword; he will set up siege works(BC) against you, build a ramp(BD) up to your walls and raise his shields against you. He will direct the blows of his battering rams against your walls and demolish your towers with his weapons.(BE) 10 His horses will be so many that they will cover you with dust. Your walls will tremble at the noise of the warhorses, wagons and chariots(BF) when he enters your gates as men enter a city whose walls have been broken through. 11 The hooves(BG) of his horses will trample all your streets; he will kill your people with the sword, and your strong pillars(BH) will fall to the ground.(BI) 12 They will plunder your wealth and loot your merchandise; they will break down your walls and demolish your fine houses and throw your stones, timber and rubble into the sea.(BJ) 13 I will put an end(BK) to your noisy songs,(BL) and the music of your harps(BM) will be heard no more.(BN) 14 I will make you a bare rock, and you will become a place to spread fishnets. You will never be rebuilt,(BO) for I the Lord have spoken, declares the Sovereign Lord.

15 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says to Tyre: Will not the coastlands(BP) tremble(BQ) at the sound of your fall, when the wounded groan(BR) and the slaughter takes place in you? 16 Then all the princes of the coast will step down from their thrones and lay aside their robes and take off their embroidered(BS) garments. Clothed(BT) with terror, they will sit on the ground,(BU) trembling(BV) every moment, appalled(BW) at you. 17 Then they will take up a lament(BX) concerning you and say to you:

“‘How you are destroyed, city of renown,
    peopled by men of the sea!
You were a power on the seas,
    you and your citizens;
you put your terror
    on all who lived there.(BY)
18 Now the coastlands tremble(BZ)
    on the day of your fall;
the islands in the sea
    are terrified at your collapse.’(CA)

19 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When I make you a desolate city, like cities no longer inhabited, and when I bring the ocean depths(CB) over you and its vast waters cover you,(CC) 20 then I will bring you down with those who go down to the pit,(CD) to the people of long ago. I will make you dwell in the earth below, as in ancient ruins, with those who go down to the pit, and you will not return or take your place[c] in the land of the living.(CE) 21 I will bring you to a horrible end and you will be no more.(CF) You will be sought, but you will never again be found, declares the Sovereign Lord.”(CG)

A Lament Over Tyre

27 The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, take up a lament(CH) concerning Tyre. Say to Tyre,(CI) situated at the gateway to the sea,(CJ) merchant of peoples on many coasts, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘You say, Tyre,
    “I am perfect in beauty.(CK)
Your domain was on the high seas;
    your builders brought your beauty to perfection.(CL)
They made all your timbers
    of juniper from Senir[d];(CM)
they took a cedar from Lebanon(CN)
    to make a mast for you.
Of oaks(CO) from Bashan
    they made your oars;
of cypress wood[e] from the coasts of Cyprus(CP)
    they made your deck, adorned with ivory.
Fine embroidered linen(CQ) from Egypt was your sail
    and served as your banner;
your awnings were of blue and purple(CR)
    from the coasts of Elishah.(CS)
Men of Sidon and Arvad(CT) were your oarsmen;
    your skilled men, Tyre, were aboard as your sailors.(CU)
Veteran craftsmen of Byblos(CV) were on board
    as shipwrights to caulk your seams.
All the ships of the sea(CW) and their sailors
    came alongside to trade for your wares.

10 “‘Men of Persia,(CX) Lydia(CY) and Put(CZ)
    served as soldiers in your army.
They hung their shields(DA) and helmets on your walls,
    bringing you splendor.
11 Men of Arvad and Helek
    guarded your walls on every side;
men of Gammad
    were in your towers.
They hung their shields around your walls;
    they brought your beauty to perfection.(DB)

12 “‘Tarshish(DC) did business with you because of your great wealth of goods;(DD) they exchanged silver, iron, tin and lead for your merchandise.

13 “‘Greece,(DE) Tubal and Meshek(DF) did business with you; they traded human beings(DG) and articles of bronze for your wares.

14 “‘Men of Beth Togarmah(DH) exchanged chariot horses, cavalry horses and mules for your merchandise.

15 “‘The men of Rhodes[f](DI) traded with you, and many coastlands(DJ) were your customers; they paid you with ivory(DK) tusks and ebony.

16 “‘Aram[g](DL) did business with you because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise,(DM) purple fabric, embroidered work, fine linen,(DN) coral(DO) and rubies for your merchandise.

17 “‘Judah and Israel traded with you; they exchanged wheat(DP) from Minnith(DQ) and confections,[h] honey, olive oil and balm(DR) for your wares.(DS)

18 “‘Damascus(DT) did business with you because of your many products and great wealth of goods.(DU) They offered wine from Helbon, wool from Zahar 19 and casks of wine from Izal(DV) in exchange for your wares: wrought iron, cassia(DW) and calamus.

20 “‘Dedan(DX) traded in saddle blankets with you.

21 “‘Arabia(DY) and all the princes of Kedar(DZ) were your customers; they did business with you in lambs, rams and goats.

22 “‘The merchants of Sheba(EA) and Raamah traded with you; for your merchandise they exchanged the finest of all kinds of spices(EB) and precious stones, and gold.(EC)

23 “‘Harran,(ED) Kanneh and Eden(EE) and merchants of Sheba, Ashur(EF) and Kilmad traded with you. 24 In your marketplace they traded with you beautiful garments, blue fabric, embroidered work and multicolored rugs with cords twisted and tightly knotted.

25 “‘The ships of Tarshish(EG) serve
    as carriers for your wares.
You are filled with heavy cargo
    as you sail the sea.(EH)
26 Your oarsmen take you
    out to the high seas.
But the east wind(EI) will break you to pieces
    far out at sea.
27 Your wealth,(EJ) merchandise and wares,
    your mariners, sailors and shipwrights,
your merchants and all your soldiers,
    and everyone else on board
will sink into the heart of the sea(EK)
    on the day of your shipwreck.
28 The shorelands will quake(EL)
    when your sailors cry out.
29 All who handle the oars
    will abandon their ships;
the mariners and all the sailors
    will stand on the shore.
30 They will raise their voice
    and cry bitterly over you;
they will sprinkle dust(EM) on their heads
    and roll(EN) in ashes.(EO)
31 They will shave their heads(EP) because of you
    and will put on sackcloth.
They will weep(EQ) over you with anguish of soul
    and with bitter mourning.(ER)
32 As they wail and mourn over you,
    they will take up a lament(ES) concerning you:
“Who was ever silenced like Tyre,
    surrounded by the sea?(ET)
33 When your merchandise went out on the seas,(EU)
    you satisfied many nations;
with your great wealth(EV) and your wares
    you enriched the kings of the earth.
34 Now you are shattered by the sea
    in the depths of the waters;
your wares and all your company
    have gone down with you.(EW)
35 All who live in the coastlands(EX)
    are appalled(EY) at you;
their kings shudder with horror
    and their faces are distorted with fear.(EZ)
36 The merchants among the nations scoff at you;(FA)
    you have come to a horrible end
    and will be no more.(FB)’”

A Prophecy Against the King of Tyre

28 The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man(FC), say to the ruler of Tyre, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘In the pride of your heart
    you say, “I am a god;
I sit on the throne(FD) of a god
    in the heart of the seas.”(FE)
But you are a mere mortal and not a god,
    though you think you are as wise as a god.(FF)
Are you wiser than Daniel[i]?(FG)
    Is no secret hidden from you?
By your wisdom and understanding
    you have gained wealth for yourself
and amassed gold and silver
    in your treasuries.(FH)
By your great skill in trading(FI)
    you have increased your wealth,(FJ)
and because of your wealth
    your heart has grown proud.(FK)

“‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘Because you think you are wise,
    as wise as a god,
I am going to bring foreigners against you,
    the most ruthless of nations;(FL)
they will draw their swords against your beauty and wisdom(FM)
    and pierce your shining splendor.(FN)
They will bring you down to the pit,(FO)
    and you will die a violent death(FP)
    in the heart of the seas.(FQ)
Will you then say, “I am a god,”
    in the presence of those who kill you?
You will be but a mortal, not a god,(FR)
    in the hands of those who slay you.(FS)
10 You will die the death of the uncircumcised(FT)
    at the hands of foreigners.

I have spoken, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”

11 The word of the Lord came to me: 12 “Son of man, take up a lament(FU) concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘You were the seal of perfection,
    full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.(FV)
13 You were in Eden,(FW)
    the garden of God;(FX)
every precious stone(FY) adorned you:
    carnelian, chrysolite and emerald,
    topaz, onyx and jasper,
    lapis lazuli, turquoise(FZ) and beryl.[j]
Your settings and mountings[k] were made of gold;
    on the day you were created they were prepared.(GA)
14 You were anointed(GB) as a guardian cherub,(GC)
    for so I ordained you.
You were on the holy mount of God;
    you walked among the fiery stones.
15 You were blameless in your ways
    from the day you were created
    till wickedness was found in you.
16 Through your widespread trade
    you were filled with violence,(GD)
    and you sinned.
So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God,
    and I expelled you, guardian cherub,(GE)
    from among the fiery stones.
17 Your heart became proud(GF)
    on account of your beauty,
and you corrupted your wisdom
    because of your splendor.
So I threw you to the earth;
    I made a spectacle of you before kings.(GG)
18 By your many sins and dishonest trade
    you have desecrated your sanctuaries.
So I made a fire(GH) come out from you,
    and it consumed you,
and I reduced you to ashes(GI) on the ground
    in the sight of all who were watching.(GJ)
19 All the nations who knew you
    are appalled(GK) at you;
you have come to a horrible end
    and will be no more.(GL)’”

A Prophecy Against Sidon

20 The word of the Lord came to me: 21 “Son of man, set your face against(GM) Sidon;(GN) prophesy against her 22 and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘I am against you, Sidon,
    and among you I will display my glory.(GO)
You will know that I am the Lord,
    when I inflict punishment(GP) on you
    and within you am proved to be holy.(GQ)
23 I will send a plague upon you
    and make blood flow in your streets.
The slain will fall within you,
    with the sword against you on every side.
Then you will know that I am the Lord.(GR)

24 “‘No longer will the people of Israel have malicious neighbors who are painful briers and sharp thorns.(GS) Then they will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.

25 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When I gather(GT) the people of Israel from the nations where they have been scattered,(GU) I will be proved holy(GV) through them in the sight of the nations. Then they will live in their own land, which I gave to my servant Jacob.(GW) 26 They will live there in safety(GX) and will build houses and plant(GY) vineyards; they will live in safety when I inflict punishment(GZ) on all their neighbors who maligned them. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.(HA)’”

A Prophecy Against Egypt

Judgment on Pharaoh

29 In the tenth year, in the tenth month on the twelfth day, the word of the Lord came to me:(HB) “Son of man, set your face against(HC) Pharaoh king of Egypt(HD) and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.(HE) Speak to him and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘I am against you, Pharaoh(HF) king of Egypt,
    you great monster(HG) lying among your streams.
You say, “The Nile(HH) belongs to me;
    I made it for myself.”
But I will put hooks(HI) in your jaws
    and make the fish of your streams stick to your scales.
I will pull you out from among your streams,
    with all the fish sticking to your scales.(HJ)
I will leave you in the desert,
    you and all the fish of your streams.
You will fall on the open field
    and not be gathered(HK) or picked up.
I will give you as food
    to the beasts of the earth and the birds of the sky.(HL)

Then all who live in Egypt will know that I am the Lord.

“‘You have been a staff of reed(HM) for the people of Israel. When they grasped you with their hands, you splintered(HN) and you tore open their shoulders; when they leaned on you, you broke and their backs were wrenched.[l](HO)

“‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will bring a sword against you and kill both man and beast.(HP) Egypt will become a desolate wasteland. Then they will know that I am the Lord.

“‘Because you said, “The Nile(HQ) is mine; I made it,(HR) 10 therefore I am against you(HS) and against your streams, and I will make the land of Egypt(HT) a ruin and a desolate waste(HU) from Migdol(HV) to Aswan,(HW) as far as the border of Cush.[m](HX) 11 The foot of neither man nor beast will pass through it; no one will live there for forty years.(HY) 12 I will make the land of Egypt desolate(HZ) among devastated lands, and her cities will lie desolate forty years among ruined cities. And I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries.(IA)

13 “‘Yet this is what the Sovereign Lord says: At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the nations where they were scattered. 14 I will bring them back from captivity and return them to Upper Egypt,(IB) the land of their ancestry. There they will be a lowly(IC) kingdom.(ID) 15 It will be the lowliest of kingdoms and will never again exalt itself above the other nations.(IE) I will make it so weak that it will never again rule over the nations. 16 Egypt will no longer be a source of confidence(IF) for the people of Israel but will be a reminder(IG) of their sin in turning to her for help.(IH) Then they will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.(II)’”

Nebuchadnezzar’s Reward

17 In the twenty-seventh year, in the first month on the first day, the word of the Lord came to me:(IJ) 18 “Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar(IK) king of Babylon drove his army in a hard campaign against Tyre; every head was rubbed bare(IL) and every shoulder made raw.(IM) Yet he and his army got no reward from the campaign he led against Tyre. 19 Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am going to give Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king(IN) of Babylon, and he will carry off its wealth. He will loot and plunder(IO) the land as pay for his army.(IP) 20 I have given him Egypt(IQ) as a reward for his efforts because he and his army did it for me, declares the Sovereign Lord.(IR)

21 “On that day I will make a horn[n](IS) grow for the Israelites, and I will open your mouth(IT) among them. Then they will know that I am the Lord.(IU)

A Lament Over Egypt

30 The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, prophesy and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘Wail(IV) and say,
    “Alas for that day!”
For the day is near,(IW)
    the day of the Lord(IX) is near—
a day of clouds,
    a time of doom for the nations.
A sword will come against Egypt,(IY)
    and anguish will come upon Cush.[o](IZ)
When the slain fall in Egypt,
    her wealth will be carried away
    and her foundations torn down.(JA)

Cush and Libya,(JB) Lydia and all Arabia,(JC) Kub and the people(JD) of the covenant land will fall by the sword along with Egypt.(JE)

“‘This is what the Lord says:

“‘The allies of Egypt will fall
    and her proud strength will fail.
From Migdol to Aswan(JF)
    they will fall by the sword within her,
declares the Sovereign Lord.
“‘They will be desolate
    among desolate lands,
and their cities will lie
    among ruined cities.(JG)
Then they will know that I am the Lord,
    when I set fire(JH) to Egypt
    and all her helpers are crushed.(JI)

“‘On that day messengers will go out from me in ships to frighten Cush(JJ) out of her complacency. Anguish(JK) will take hold of them on the day of Egypt’s doom, for it is sure to come.(JL)

10 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘I will put an end to the hordes of Egypt
    by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar(JM) king of Babylon.(JN)
11 He and his army—the most ruthless of nations(JO)
    will be brought in to destroy the land.
They will draw their swords against Egypt
    and fill the land with the slain.(JP)
12 I will dry up(JQ) the waters of the Nile(JR)
    and sell the land to an evil nation;
by the hand of foreigners
    I will lay waste(JS) the land and everything in it.

I the Lord have spoken.

13 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘I will destroy the idols(JT)
    and put an end to the images in Memphis.(JU)
No longer will there be a prince in Egypt,(JV)
    and I will spread fear throughout the land.
14 I will lay(JW) waste Upper Egypt,
    set fire to Zoan(JX)
    and inflict punishment on Thebes.(JY)
15 I will pour out my wrath on Pelusium,
    the stronghold of Egypt,
    and wipe out the hordes of Thebes.
16 I will set fire(JZ) to Egypt;
    Pelusium will writhe in agony.
Thebes will be taken by storm;
    Memphis(KA) will be in constant distress.
17 The young men of Heliopolis(KB) and Bubastis
    will fall by the sword,
    and the cities themselves will go into captivity.
18 Dark will be the day at Tahpanhes(KC)
    when I break the yoke of Egypt;(KD)
    there her proud strength will come to an end.
She will be covered with clouds,
    and her villages will go into captivity.(KE)
19 So I will inflict punishment(KF) on Egypt,
    and they will know that I am the Lord.’”

Pharaoh’s Arms Are Broken

20 In the eleventh year, in the first month on the seventh day, the word of the Lord came to me:(KG) 21 “Son of man, I have broken the arm(KH) of Pharaoh(KI) king of Egypt. It has not been bound up to be healed(KJ) or put in a splint so that it may become strong enough to hold a sword. 22 Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt.(KK) I will break both his arms, the good arm as well as the broken one, and make the sword fall from his hand.(KL) 23 I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries.(KM) 24 I will strengthen(KN) the arms of the king of Babylon and put my sword(KO) in his hand, but I will break the arms of Pharaoh, and he will groan(KP) before him like a mortally wounded man. 25 I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of Pharaoh will fall limp. Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I put my sword(KQ) into the hand of the king of Babylon and he brandishes it against Egypt.(KR) 26 I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries. Then they will know that I am the Lord.(KS)

Pharaoh as a Felled Cedar of Lebanon

31 In the eleventh year,(KT) in the third month on the first day, the word of the Lord came to me:(KU) “Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his hordes:

“‘Who can be compared with you in majesty?
Consider Assyria,(KV) once a cedar in Lebanon,(KW)
    with beautiful branches overshadowing the forest;
it towered on high,
    its top above the thick foliage.(KX)
The waters(KY) nourished it,
    deep springs made it grow tall;
their streams flowed
    all around its base
and sent their channels
    to all the trees of the field.(KZ)
So it towered higher(LA)
    than all the trees of the field;
its boughs increased
    and its branches grew long,
    spreading because of abundant waters.(LB)
All the birds of the sky
    nested in its boughs,
all the animals of the wild
    gave birth(LC) under its branches;
all the great nations
    lived in its shade.(LD)
It was majestic in beauty,
    with its spreading boughs,
for its roots went down
    to abundant waters.(LE)
The cedars(LF) in the garden of God
    could not rival it,
nor could the junipers
    equal its boughs,
nor could the plane trees(LG)
    compare with its branches—
no tree in the garden of God
    could match its beauty.(LH)
I made it beautiful
    with abundant branches,
the envy of all the trees of Eden(LI)
    in the garden of God.(LJ)

10 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because the great cedar towered over the thick foliage, and because it was proud(LK) of its height, 11 I gave it into the hands of the ruler of the nations, for him to deal with according to its wickedness. I cast it aside,(LL) 12 and the most ruthless of foreign nations(LM) cut it down and left it. Its boughs fell on the mountains and in all the valleys;(LN) its branches lay broken in all the ravines of the land. All the nations of the earth came out from under its shade and left it.(LO) 13 All the birds settled on the fallen tree, and all the wild animals lived among its branches.(LP) 14 Therefore no other trees by the waters are ever to tower proudly on high, lifting their tops above the thick foliage. No other trees so well-watered are ever to reach such a height; they are all destined(LQ) for death,(LR) for the earth below, among mortals who go down to the realm of the dead.(LS)

15 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day it was brought down to the realm of the dead I covered the deep springs with mourning for it; I held back its streams, and its abundant waters were restrained. Because of it I clothed Lebanon with gloom, and all the trees of the field withered away.(LT) 16 I made the nations tremble(LU) at the sound of its fall when I brought it down to the realm of the dead to be with those who go down to the pit. Then all the trees(LV) of Eden,(LW) the choicest and best of Lebanon, the well-watered trees, were consoled(LX) in the earth below.(LY) 17 They too, like the great cedar, had gone down to the realm of the dead, to those killed by the sword,(LZ) along with the armed men who lived in its shade among the nations.

18 “‘Which of the trees of Eden can be compared with you in splendor and majesty? Yet you, too, will be brought down with the trees of Eden to the earth below; you will lie among the uncircumcised,(MA) with those killed by the sword.

“‘This is Pharaoh and all his hordes, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”

A Lament Over Pharaoh

32 In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month on the first day, the word of the Lord came to me:(MB) “Son of man, take up a lament(MC) concerning Pharaoh king of Egypt and say to him:

“‘You are like a lion(MD) among the nations;
    you are like a monster(ME) in the seas(MF)
thrashing about in your streams,
    churning the water with your feet
    and muddying the streams.(MG)

“‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘With a great throng of people
    I will cast my net over you,
    and they will haul you up in my net.(MH)
I will throw you on the land
    and hurl you on the open field.
I will let all the birds of the sky settle on you
    and all the animals of the wild gorge themselves on you.(MI)
I will spread your flesh on the mountains
    and fill the valleys(MJ) with your remains.
I will drench the land with your flowing blood(MK)
    all the way to the mountains,
    and the ravines will be filled with your flesh.(ML)
When I snuff you out, I will cover the heavens
    and darken their stars;
I will cover the sun with a cloud,
    and the moon will not give its light.(MM)
All the shining lights in the heavens
    I will darken(MN) over you;
    I will bring darkness over your land,(MO)
declares the Sovereign Lord.
I will trouble the hearts of many peoples
    when I bring about your destruction among the nations,
    among[p] lands you have not known.
10 I will cause many peoples to be appalled at you,
    and their kings will shudder with horror because of you
    when I brandish my sword(MP) before them.
On the day(MQ) of your downfall
    each of them will tremble
    every moment for his life.(MR)

11 “‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘The sword(MS) of the king of Babylon(MT)
    will come against you.(MU)
12 I will cause your hordes to fall
    by the swords of mighty men—
    the most ruthless of all nations.(MV)
They will shatter the pride of Egypt,
    and all her hordes will be overthrown.(MW)
13 I will destroy all her cattle
    from beside abundant waters
no longer to be stirred by the foot of man
    or muddied by the hooves of cattle.(MX)
14 Then I will let her waters settle
    and make her streams flow like oil,
declares the Sovereign Lord.
15 When I make Egypt desolate
    and strip the land of everything in it,
when I strike down all who live there,
    then they will know that I am the Lord.(MY)

16 “This is the lament(MZ) they will chant for her. The daughters of the nations will chant it; for Egypt and all her hordes they will chant it, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

Egypt’s Descent Into the Realm of the Dead

17 In the twelfth year, on the fifteenth day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me:(NA) 18 “Son of man, wail for the hordes of Egypt and consign(NB) to the earth below both her and the daughters of mighty nations, along with those who go down to the pit.(NC) 19 Say to them, ‘Are you more favored than others? Go down and be laid among the uncircumcised.’(ND) 20 They will fall among those killed by the sword. The sword is drawn; let her be dragged(NE) off with all her hordes.(NF) 21 From within the realm of the dead(NG) the mighty leaders will say of Egypt and her allies, ‘They have come down and they lie with the uncircumcised,(NH) with those killed by the sword.’

22 “Assyria is there with her whole army; she is surrounded by the graves of all her slain, all who have fallen by the sword. 23 Their graves are in the depths of the pit(NI) and her army lies around her grave.(NJ) All who had spread terror in the land of the living are slain, fallen by the sword.

24 “Elam(NK) is there, with all her hordes around her grave. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword.(NL) All who had spread terror in the land of the living(NM) went down uncircumcised to the earth below. They bear their shame with those who go down to the pit.(NN) 25 A bed is made for her among the slain, with all her hordes around her grave. All of them are uncircumcised,(NO) killed by the sword. Because their terror had spread in the land of the living, they bear their shame with those who go down to the pit; they are laid among the slain.

26 “Meshek and Tubal(NP) are there, with all their hordes around their graves. All of them are uncircumcised, killed by the sword because they spread their terror in the land of the living. 27 But they do not lie with the fallen warriors of old,[q](NQ) who went down to the realm of the dead with their weapons of war—their swords placed under their heads and their shields[r] resting on their bones—though these warriors also had terrorized the land of the living.

28 “You too, Pharaoh, will be broken and will lie among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword.

29 “Edom(NR) is there, her kings and all her princes; despite their power, they are laid with those killed by the sword. They lie with the uncircumcised, with those who go down to the pit.(NS)

30 “All the princes of the north(NT) and all the Sidonians(NU) are there; they went down with the slain in disgrace despite the terror caused by their power. They lie uncircumcised(NV) with those killed by the sword and bear their shame with those who go down to the pit.(NW)

31 “Pharaoh—he and all his army—will see them and he will be consoled(NX) for all his hordes that were killed by the sword, declares the Sovereign Lord. 32 Although I had him spread terror in the land of the living, Pharaoh(NY) and all his hordes will be laid among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword, declares the Sovereign Lord.”(NZ)

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 26:1 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text does not have month of the twelfth.
  2. Ezekiel 26:7 Hebrew Nebuchadrezzar, of which Nebuchadnezzar is a variant; here and often in Ezekiel and Jeremiah
  3. Ezekiel 26:20 Septuagint; Hebrew return, and I will give glory
  4. Ezekiel 27:5 That is, Mount Hermon
  5. Ezekiel 27:6 Targum; the Masoretic Text has a different division of the consonants.
  6. Ezekiel 27:15 Septuagint; Hebrew Dedan
  7. Ezekiel 27:16 Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac Edom
  8. Ezekiel 27:17 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
  9. Ezekiel 28:3 Or Danel, a man of renown in ancient literature
  10. Ezekiel 28:13 The precise identification of some of these precious stones is uncertain.
  11. Ezekiel 28:13 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
  12. Ezekiel 29:7 Syriac (see also Septuagint and Vulgate); Hebrew and you caused their backs to stand
  13. Ezekiel 29:10 That is, the upper Nile region
  14. Ezekiel 29:21 Horn here symbolizes strength.
  15. Ezekiel 30:4 That is, the upper Nile region; also in verses 5 and 9
  16. Ezekiel 32:9 Hebrew; Septuagint bring you into captivity among the nations, / to
  17. Ezekiel 32:27 Septuagint; Hebrew warriors who were uncircumcised
  18. Ezekiel 32:27 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text punishment

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