Study Desk

A Message to Baruch

When Baruch^(a) son of Neriah^(b) wrote on a scroll^(c) the words Jeremiah the prophet dictated in the fourth year of Jehoiakim^(d) son of Josiah king of Judah, Jeremiah said this to Baruch:

"This is what the Lord , the God of Israel, says to you, Baruch:

You said, ‘Woe^(e) to me! The Lord has added sorrow^(f) to my pain;^(g) I am worn out with groaning^(h) and find no rest.'⁽ⁱ⁾

But the Lord has told me to say to you, ‘This is what the Lord says: I will overthrow what I have built and uproot^(j) what I have planted,^(k) throughout the earth.^(l)

Should you then seek great^(m) things for yourself? Do not seek them.⁽ⁿ⁾ For I will bring disaster^(o) on all people,^(p) declares the Lord , but wherever you go I will let you escape^(q) with your life.'"^(r)

A Message About Egypt

This is the word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations:^(a)

Concerning Egypt:^(b) This is the message against the army of Pharaoh Necho^(c) king of Egypt, which was defeated at Carchemish^(d) on the Euphrates^(e) River by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon in the fourth year of Jehoiakim^(f) son of Josiah king of Judah:

"Prepare your shields,^(g) both large and small, and march out for battle!

Harness the horses, mount the steeds! Take your positions with helmets on! Polish^(h) your spears, put on your armor!⁽ⁱ⁾

What do I see? They are terrified, they are retreating, their warriors are defeated. They flee^(j) in haste without looking back, and there is terror^(k) on every side," declares the Lord .

"The swift cannot flee^(l) nor the strong escape. In the north by the River Euphrates^(m) they stumble and fall.⁽ⁿ⁾

"Who is this that rises like the Nile, like rivers of surging waters?^(o)

Egypt rises like the Nile,^(p) like rivers of surging waters. She says, ‘I will rise and cover the earth; I will destroy cities and their people.'^(q)

Charge, you horses! Drive furiously, you charioteers!^(r) March on, you warriors—men of Cush^[a](s) and Put who carry shields, men of Lydia^(t) who draw the bow.

But that day^(u) belongs to the Lord, the Lord Almighty— a day of vengeance^(v), for vengeance on his foes. The sword will devour^(w) till it is satisfied, till it has quenched its thirst with blood.^(x) For the Lord, the Lord Almighty, will offer sacrifice^(y) in the land of the north by the River Euphrates.^(z)

"Go up to Gilead and get balm,^(aa) Virgin^(ab) Daughter Egypt. But you try many medicines in vain; there is no healing^(ac) for you.

The nations will hear of your shame; your cries will fill the earth. One warrior will stumble over another; both will fall^(ad) down together."

This is the message the Lord spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the coming of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon^(ae) to attack Egypt:^(af)

"Announce this in Egypt, and proclaim it in Migdol; proclaim it also in Memphis^(ag) and Tahpanhes:^(ah) ‘Take your positions and get ready, for the sword devours^(ai) those around you.'

Why will your warriors be laid low? They cannot stand, for the Lord will push them down.^(aj)

They will stumble^(ak) repeatedly; they will fall^(al) over each other. They will say, ‘Get up, let us go back to our own people^(am) and our native lands, away from the sword of the oppressor.'^(an)

There they will exclaim, ‘Pharaoh king of Egypt is only a loud noise;^(ao) he has missed his opportunity.^(ap)'

"As surely as I live," declares the King,^(aq) whose name is the Lord Almighty, "one will come who is like Tabor^(ar) among the mountains, like Carmel^(as) by the sea.

Pack your belongings for exile,^(at) you who live in Egypt, for Memphis^(au) will be laid waste^(av) and lie in ruins without inhabitant.

"Egypt is a beautiful heifer, but a gadfly is coming against her from the north.^(aw)

The mercenaries^(ax) in her ranks are like fattened calves.^(ay) They too will turn and flee^(az) together, they will not stand their ground, for the day^(ba) of disaster is coming upon them, the time^(bb) for them to be punished.

Egypt will hiss like a fleeing serpent as the enemy advances in force; they will come against her with axes, like men who cut down trees.^(bc)

They will chop down her forest," declares the Lord , "dense though it be. They are more numerous than locusts,^(bd) they cannot be counted.

Daughter Egypt will be put to shame, given into the hands of the people of the north.^(be)"

The Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "I am about to bring punishment on Amon god of Thebes,^(bf) on Pharaoh,^(bg) on Egypt and her gods^(bh) and her kings, and on those who rely^(bi) on Pharaoh.

I will give them into the hands^(bj) of those who want to kill them—Nebuchadnezzar king^(bk) of Babylon and his officers. Later, however, Egypt will be inhabited^(bl) as in times past," declares the Lord .

"Do not be afraid,^(bm) Jacob^(bn) my servant;^(bo) do not be dismayed, Israel. I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile.^(bp) Jacob will again have peace and security, and no one will make him afraid.

Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant, for I am with you,"^(bq) declares the Lord . "Though I completely destroy^(br) all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only in due measure; I will not let you go entirely unpunished."