Ezekiel 30:1-26, NLT
Ezekiel 30
A Sad Day for Egypt
1This is another message that came to me from the 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:
