Ezekiel Chapter 30

A Lament for Egypt

1 A message from the LORD came to me again:

         2 “Son of man, prophesy, ‘The Lord GOD says,

            “Wail, ‘Oh for the day!’

            3 The day of the LORD is near,

                  a cloudy day of doom for the nations.

            4 A sword will come at Egypt;

                  there’ll be anguish in Nubia

                  when the slain fall in Egypt.

                        They’ll carry away its wealth

                        and tear up its foundations.

5 Nubia, Put, Lud, Arabia, Libya, and the people of any land allied with them will fall by the sword with them.   

Ezek 30:1-5

6 ’The LORD says:

            “Those who support Egypt will fall;

                  its proud power will collapse.

            From Migdol to Syene

                  they’ll fall by the sword.

7 They’ll be desolate among desolate lands;

            its cities will lie desolate among devastated cities.

8 They’ll know I’m the LORD

            when I set Egypt on fire

            and break down its helpers.

9 At that time, I’ll send ambassadors in ships

            to terrify secure Nubia;

            anguish will come down on them as at Egypt’s doom.

                  It’s coming!”

10 ‘The Lord GOD says,

            “By Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon,

I’ll put an end to Egypt’s wealth.                                           Ezek 30:6-10

11 Him and his people, the most ruthless of the nations,

            I’ll bring in to destroy the land.

            They’ll draw their swords against it

                  and fill the country with the slain.

12 I’ll dry up the Nile’s canals

                  and sell the land to evil men.

            I’ll use foreigners to make the land desolate

                  and everything that’s in it,

I the LORD have said it.                                                           Ezek 30:11-12

13 ‘The Lord GOD says,

            “I’ll destroy the idols

                  and make images cease in Memphis.

            There won’t be a prince in Egypt anymore;

                  I’ll put fear in Egypt.

14 I’ll make Pathros desolate,

            set fire to Zoan,

            and carry out judgment on Thebes.

15 I’ll pour out my anger on Sin, Egypt’s fortress;

            I’ll slay the population in Thebes,

16 I’ll set Egypt on fire.

            Sin will writhe in anguish;

            Thebes will be breached;

Memphis will endure daily distress.                                       Ezek 30:13-16

17 The young men of On and Pi-beseth

                  will fall by the sword;

            the women will go into captivity.

18 It will be a dark day in Tehaphnehes

                  when I break the yoke bars of Egypt there.

            The pride in its power will be gone;

                  a cloud will cover it,

                  and Egypt’s inhabitants will go into captivity.

19 So I’ll carry out judgments on Egypt,

            and they’ll know I’m the LORD.”’”                

Ezek 30:17-19

20 The seventh day, first month, eleventh year, a message from the LORD came to me:

21 “Son of man, I’ve broken the arm of Pharaoh, Egypt’s king. It hasn’t been put in a sling to mend or wrapped with a bandage to get strong enough to hold a sword.’ 22 So the Lord GOD says, ‘I’ll break both of his arms, the good arm and the broken one, and make the sword fall from his hand. 23 I’ll scatter the Egyptians among the nations. 24 I’ll strengthen the king of Babylon and put my sword in his hand. Pharaoh will groan from his wounds. 25 I’ll strengthen the king of Babylon’s arms, but Pharaoh’s arms will fall. When the king of Babylon holds out his sword against Egypt 26 and I scatter the Egyptians among the nations, they’ll know I’m the LORD.”’”                                                                                          

Ezek 30:20-26

From the CNT translation by Virgil Warren, PhD