Prophecy Against Egypt
29 It was the tenth year [C since King Jehoiachin’s exile (1:2)], in the tenth month, on the twelfth day of the month [C January 7, 587 bc]. The ·Lord spoke his word [L word of the Lord came] to me, saying: 2 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], ·look [L set your face] toward the king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and all Egypt. 3 Say: ‘This is what the Lord God says:
[L Look; T Behold] I am against you, Pharaoh, king of Egypt.
You are like a great ·crocodile [or monster; or dragon] that lies in the Nile River.
You say, “The Nile is mine;
I made it for myself.”
4 But I will put hooks in your jaws,
and I will make the fish of the Nile stick to your ·sides [scales].
I will pull you up out of your ·rivers [streams],
with all the fish of your streams sticking to your ·sides [scales].
5 I will leave you in the ·desert [wilderness] ,
you and all the fish from your ·rivers [streams].
You will fall onto the ·ground [open field];
you will not be picked up or ·buried [L gathered].
I have given you to the ·wild animals [L beasts of the earth]
and to the birds of the sky for food.
6 Then all the people who live in Egypt will know that I am the Lord.
“‘·Israel tried to lean on you for help, but you were like a crutch made out of a weak stalk of grass [L Because you were a reed staff for the house of Israel…; Is. 36:6]. 7 When their hands grabbed you, you ·splintered [broke] and tore open their shoulders. When they leaned on you, you ·broke [splintered] and made all their ·backs twist [or legs go wobbly; or loins shake].
8 “‘So this is what the Lord God says: I will ·cause an enemy to attack [L bring a sword against] you and kill your people and animals. 9 Egypt will become an ·empty desert [desolate wasteland]. Then they will know that I am the Lord.
“‘Because you said, “The Nile River is mine, and I have made it,” 10 I am against you and your ·rivers [streams]. I will destroy the land of Egypt and make it an ·empty desert [desolate wasteland] from Migdol [C in the north] to Aswan [C in the south], all the way to the border of Cush [C Ethiopia]. 11 No ·person or animal will walk [L foot of man shall pass through it and no foot of beast will pass] through it, and no one will live in Egypt for forty years. 12 I will make the land of Egypt ·the most deserted country of all [L a desolation among desolate lands]. Her cities will be ·the most deserted of all [a desolation among] ruined cities for forty years. I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, spreading them among the countries.
13 “‘This is what the Lord God says: After forty years I will gather Egypt from the nations where they have been scattered. 14 I will ·bring back the Egyptian captives [restore the fortunes of Egypt] and make them return to ·southern Egypt [L the land of Pathros], to the land ·they came from [of their ancestry/origin]. They will become a ·weak [lowly; insignificant] kingdom there. 15 It will be the ·weakest [most lowly/insignificant] kingdom, and it will never again ·rule [L exalt itself over] other nations. I will make it so ·weak [small] it will never again rule over the nations. 16 The Israelites will never again ·depend on [rely on; have confidence in] Egypt. Instead, ·Egypt’s punishment [L it] will remind the Israelites of their sin in turning to Egypt for help. Then they will know that I am the Lord God.’”
Egypt Is Given to Babylon
17 It was the twenty-seventh year [C since King Jehoiachin’s exile (1:2)], in the first month, on the first day of the month [C April 26, 571 bc]. The ·Lord spoke his word [L word of the Lord came] to me, saying: 18 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made his army ·fight [L labor] hard against Tyre. Every soldier’s head was rubbed bare, and every shoulder was rubbed raw. But Nebuchadnezzar and his army gained ·nothing [or no wages] from ·fighting Tyre [L the labor he performed against her]. 19 So this is what the Lord God says: I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. He will ·take away Egypt’s people and its wealth and its treasures [L carry off its wealth and loot and plunder it] as pay for his army. 20 I am giving Nebuchadnezzar the land of Egypt as ·a reward [compensation] for working hard for me, says the Lord God.
21 “·At that time [L On that day] I will ·make Israel grow strong again [L cause a horn to sprout for the house of Israel; Ps. 132:17], and I will ·let you, Ezekiel, speak to them [L give you an open mouth among them]. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”