The Downfall of Egypt

Jeremiah 26

This chapter records the Lord's word against the army of Pharaoh Necho, defeated at the Euphrates by Nebuchadnezzar, describing Egypt's chariots, horsemen, and mercenaries fleeing in disorder before an enemy from the north. It closes with words of comfort to Jacob, assuring Israel that though the Lord will discipline his people in just measure, he will not utterly destroy them but will save them from their captivity.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonTo Egypt, respecting the army of Pharao Nechao, king of Egypt, who was by the river Euphrates, at Charmis, whom Nabuchodonosar king of Babylon defeated in the fourth year of Joakim, king of Juda:

BrentonFor Egypt, against the Power of Pharao Nechao King of Egypt, who was by the river Euphrates in Charmis, whom Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Joakim king of Juda.

GreekΤΗ ΑΙΓΥΠΤΩ ἘΠΙ ΔΥΝΑΜΙΝ ΦΑΡΑΩ ΝΕΧΑΩ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΙΓΥΠΤΟΥ, ὃς ἦν ἐπὶ τῷ ποταμῷ Εὐφράτῃ ἐν Χαρμεὶς, ὃν ἐπάταξε Ναβουχοδονόσορ βασιλεὺς Βαβυλῶνος, ἐν τῷ ἔτει τῷ τετάρτῳ Ἰωακεὶμ βασιλέως Ἰούδα.

KJVAgainst Egypt, against the army of Pharaohnecho king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah.

JPSOf Egypt: concerning the army of Pharaoh-neco king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah.

Thomson—

BrentonTake up arms and spears, and draw nigh to battle;

GreekἈναλάβετε ὅπλα καὶ ἀσπίδας, καὶ προσαγάγετε εἰς πόλεμον,

KJVOrder ye the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle.

JPSMake ready buckler and shield, And draw near to battle.

ThomsonHarness the horses. Horsemen mount! and stand firm in your helmets. Having put on your breast plates, charge with your lances.

Brentonand harness the horses: mount, ye horsemen, and stand ready in your helmets; advance the spears, and put on your breast-plates.

Greekκαὶ ἐπισάξατε τοὺς ἵππους, ἐπίβητε οἱ ἱππεῖς, καὶ κατάστητε ἐν ταῖς περικεφαλαίαις ὑμῶν, προσβάλετε τὰ δόρατα, καὶ ἐνδύσασθε τοὺς θώρακας ὑμῶν.

KJVHarness the horses; and get up, ye horsemen, and stand forth with your helmets; furbish the spears, and put on the brigandines.

JPSHarness the horses, and mount, ye horsemen, And stand forth with your helmets; Furbish the spears, put on the coats of mail.

ThomsonWhy are they daunted, and falling back? Because their mighty men will be cut down, they fled amain; they rallied not, being hemmed in on all sides, saith the Lord.

BrentonWhy do they fear, and turn back? even because their mighty men shall be slain: they have utterly fled, and being hemmed in they have not rallied, saith the Lord.

GreekΤί ὅτι αὐτοὶ πτοοῦνται, καὶ ἀποχωροῦσιν εἰς τὸ ὀπίσω; διότι οἱ ἰσχυροὶ αὐτῶν κοπήσονται, φυγῇ ἔφυγον, καὶ οὐκ ἀνέστρεψαν περιεχόμενοι κυκλόθεν, λέγει Κύριος.

KJVWherefore have I seen them dismayed and turned away back? and their mighty ones are beaten down, and are fled apace, and look not back: for fear was round about, saith the LORD.

JPS—

ThomsonLet not the swift flee, nor the mighty escape to the north. The forces at the river Euphrates are weak and have fallen.

BrentonLet not the swift flee, and let not the mighty man escape to the north: the forces at Euphrates are become feeble, and they have fallen.

GreekΜὴ φευγέτω ὁ κοῦφος, καὶ μὴ ἀνασωζέσθω ὁ ἰσχυρὸς ἐπὶ Βοῤῥᾶν· τὰ παρὰ τὸν Εὐφράτην ἠσθένησε, καὶ πεπτώκασι.

KJVLet not the swift flee away, nor the mighty man escape; they shall stumble, and fall toward the north by the river Euphrates.

JPSThe swift cannot flee away, Nor the mighty man escape; In the north by the river Euphrates Have they stumbled and fallen.

ThomsonWho is this that will rush forth like the river, and whose stream will billow like a flood?

BrentonWho is this that shall come up as a river, and as rivers roll their waves?

GreekΤίς οὗτος ὡς ποταμὸς ἀναβήσεται, καὶ ὡς ποταμοὶ κυμαίνουσιν ὕδωρ;

KJVWho is this that cometh up as a flood, whose waters are moved as the rivers?

JPSWho is this like the Nile that riseth up, Like the rivers whose waters toss themselves?

ThomsonThe waters of Egypt will rush forth like a river; for He said: I will issue forth and overwhelm the earth, and destroy the inhabitants thereof.

BrentonThe waters of Egypt shall come up like a river: and he said, I will go up, and will cover the earth, and will destroy the dwellers in it.

GreekὝδατα Αἰγύπτου ὡς ποταμὸς ἀναβήσεται· καὶ εἶπεν, ἀναβήσομαι, καὶ κατακαλύψω τὴν γῆν, καὶ ἀπολῶ τοὺς κατοικοῦντας ἐν αὐτῇ.

KJVEgypt riseth up like a flood, and his waters are moved like the rivers; and he saith, I will go up, and will cover the earth; I will destroy the city and the inhabitants thereof.

JPSEgypt is like the Nile that riseth up, And like the rivers whose waters toss themselves; And he saith: ‘I will rise up, I will cover the earth, I will destroy the city and the inhabitants thereof.’

ThomsonMount your horses, prepare your chariots: march forth ye warriors of Ethiopia! and ye Libyans well clad in armour! go up also ye Lydians who bend the bow.

BrentonMount ye the horses, prepare the chariots; go forth, ye warriors of the Ethiopians, and Libyans armed with shields; and mount, ye Lydians, bend the bow.

GreekἘπίβητε ἐπὶ τοὺς ἵππους, παρασκευάσατε τὰ ἅρματα, ἐξέλθατε οἱ μαχηταὶ Αἰθιόπων, καὶ Λίβυες καθωπλισμένοι ὅπλοις, καὶ Λυδοὶ ἀνάβητε, ἐντείνατε τόξον.

KJVCome up, ye horses; and rage, ye chariots; and let the mighty men come forth; the Ethiopians and the Libyans, that handle the shield; and the Lydians, that handle and bend the bow.

JPSPrance, ye horses, and rush madly, ye chariots; And let the mighty men go forth: Cush and Put, that handle the shield, And the Ludim, that handle and bend the bow.

Thomson(p) This is indeed a day for the Lord our God: a day of vengeance, to execute vengeance on His enemies. And the sword of the Lord shall devour and be filled; it shall indeed be glutted with their blood; for there is a sacrifice for the Lord in the land of the north at the river Euphrates.

BrentonAnd that day shall be to the Lord our God a day of vengeance, to take vengeance on his enemies: and the sword of the Lord shall devour, and be glutted, and be drunken with their blood: for the Lord has a sacrifice from the land of the north at the river Euphrates.

GreekΚαὶ ἡ ἡμέρα ἐκείνη Κυρίῳ τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν ἡμέρα ἐκδικήσεως, τοῦ ἐκδικῆσαι τοὺς ἐχθροὺς αὐτοῦ· καὶ καταφάγεται ἡ μάχαιρα Κυρίου, καὶ ἐμπλησθήσεται, καὶ μεθυσθήσεται ἀπὸ τοῦ αἵματος αὐτῶν, ὅτι θυσία τῷ Κυρίῳ ἀπὸ γῆς Βοῤῥᾶ ἐπὶ ποταμῷ Εὐφράτῃ.

KJVFor this is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood: for the Lord GOD of hosts hath a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates.

JPSFor the Lord GOD of hosts shall have on that day A day of vengeance, that He may avenge Him of His adversaries; And the sword shall devour and be satiate, And shall be made drunk with their blood; For the Lord GOD of hosts hath a sacrifice In the north country by the river Euphrates.

ThomsonGo up, Galaad, and take balm for the virgin daughter of Egypt. In vain hast thou multiplied thy medicines; there is no cure for thee.

BrentonGo up to Galaad, and take balm for the virgin daughter of Egypt: in vain hast thou multiplied thy medicines; there is no help in thee.

GreekἈνάβηθι Γαλαὰδ, καὶ λάβε ῥητίνην τῇ παρθένῳ θυγατρὶ Αἰγύπτου· εἰς τὸ κενὸν ἐπλήθυνας ἰάματά σου, ὠφέλεια οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν σοί.

KJVGo up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt: in vain shalt thou use many medicines; for thou shalt not be cured.

JPSGo up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin daughter of Egypt; In vain dost thou use many medicines; There is no cure for thee.

ThomsonThe nations heard thy voice and with thy screams the land was filled; because warrior added to warrior were weak, they both fell together.

BrentonThe nations have heard thy voice, and the land has been filled with thy cry: for the warriors have fainted fighting one against another, and both are fallen together.

GreekἬκουσαν ἔθνη φωνήν σου, καὶ τῆς κραυγῆς σου ἐπλήσθη ἡ γῆ, ὅτι μαχητὴς πρὸς μαχητὴν ἠσθένησαν, ἐπιτοαυτὸ ἔπεσαν ἀμφότεροι.

KJVThe nations have heard of thy shame, and thy cry hath filled the land: for the mighty man hath stumbled against the mighty, and they are fallen both together.

JPSThe nations have heard of thy shame, And the earth is full of thy cry; For the mighty man hath stumbled against the mighty, They are fallen both of them together. .

ThomsonThe words which the Lord spoke by the ministry of Jeremias, that the king of Babylon would come and smite the land of Egypt:

BrentonThe Words which the Lord spoke by Jeremias, concerning the coming of the king of Babylon to smite the land of Egypt.

GreekἋ ἘΛΑΛΗΣΕ ΚΥΡΙΟΣ ἐν χειρὶ Ἱερεμίου, τοῦ ἐλθεῖν τὸν βασιλέα Βαβυλῶνος τοῦ κόψαι γῆν Αἰγύπτου.

KJVThe word that the LORD spake to Jeremiah the prophet, how Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon should come and smite the land of Egypt.

JPSThe word that the LORD spoke to Jeremiah the prophet, how that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon should come and smite the land of Egypt.

Thomson—

BrentonProclaim it at Magdol, and declare it at Memphis: say ye, Stand up, and prepare; for the sword has devoured thy yew-tree.

GreekἈναγγείλατε εἰς Μαγδωλὸν, καὶ παραγγείλατε εἰς Μέμφιν· εἴπατε, ἐπίστηθι, καὶ ἑτοίμασον, ὅτι κατέφαγε μάχαιρα τὴν σμίλακά σου.

KJVDeclare ye in Egypt, and publish in Migdol, and publish in Noph and in Tahpanhes: say ye, Stand fast, and prepare thee; for the sword shall devour round about thee.

JPSDeclare ye in Egypt, and announce in Migdol, And announce in Noph and in Tahpanhes; Say ye: ‘Stand forth, and prepare thee, For the sword hath devoured round about thee.’

Thomson—

BrentonWherefore has Apis fled from thee? thy choice calf has not remained; for the Lord has utterly weakened him.

GreekΔιατί ἔφυγεν ἀπὸ σοῦ ὁ Ἄπις; ὁ μόσχος ὁ ἐκλεκτός σου οὐκ ἔμεινεν· ὅτι Κύριος παρέλυσεν αὐτόν.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonBecause the Lord made him weak and thy multitude was weak and fell, therefore every one said to his fellow, Let us arise and return to our people, to our native land, from the face of the Grecian sword.

BrentonAnd thy multitude has fainted and fallen; and each one said to his neighbour, Let us arise, and return into our country to our people, from the Grecian sword.

GreekΚαὶ τὸ πλῆθός σου ἠσθένησε, καὶ ἔπεσε· καὶ ἕκαστος πρὸς τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ ἐλάλει, ἀναστῶμεν, καὶ ἀναστρέψωμεν πρὸς τὸν λαὸν ἡμῶν εἰς τὴν πατρίδα ἡμῶν, ἀπὸ προσώπου μαχαίρας Ἑλληνικῆς.

KJVHe made many to fall, yea, one fell upon another: and they said, Arise, and let us go again to our own people, and to the land of our nativity, from the oppressing sword.

JPSHe made many to stumble; Yea, they fell one upon another, And said: ‘Arise, and let us return to our own people, And to the land of our birth, From the oppressing sword.’

ThomsonCall the name of Pharao Nechao king of Egypt, Saon-Esbie-Moed, [meaning An empty sound].

BrentonCall ye the name of Pharao Nechao king of Egypt, Saon esbeie moed.

GreekΚαλέσατε τὸ ὄνομα Φαραὼ Νεχαὼ βασιλέως Αἰγύπτου, Σαὼν ἑσβειὲ μωήδ.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonAs I live, saith the Lord God, like Itaburion among the mountains, and like Charmel which is by the sea, be shall come. Get ready utensils for thy removal,

BrentonAs I live, saith the Lord God, he shall come as Itabyrion among the mountains, and as Carmel that is on the sea.

GreekΖῶ ἐγὼ, λέγει Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς, ὅτι ὡς τὸ Ἰταβύριον ἐν τοῖς ὄρεσι, καὶ ὡς ὁ Κάρμηλος ὁ ἐν τῇ θαλάσσῃ, ἥξει.

KJVAs I live, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts, Surely as Tabor is among the mountains, and as Carmel by the sea, so shall he come.

JPSAs I live, saith the King, Whose name is the LORD of hosts, Surely like Tabor among the mountains, And like Carmel by the sea, so shall he come.

ThomsonO well-housed daughter of Egypt! for Memphis shall be a waste and shall be called, Alas, because in it there are no inhabitants.

BrentonO daughter of Egypt dwelling at home, prepare thee stuff for removing: for Memphis shall be utterly desolate, and shall be called Woe, because there are no inhabitants in it.

GreekΣκεύη ἀποικισμοῦ ποίησον σεαυτῇ κατοικοῦσα θύγατερ Αἰγύπτου, ὅτι Μέμφις εἰς ἀφανισμὸν ἔσται, καὶ κληθήσεται Οὐαὶ, διὰ τὸ μὴ ὑπάρχειν κατοικοῦντας ἐν αὐτῇ.

KJVO thou daughter dwelling in Egypt, furnish thyself to go into captivity: for Noph shall be waste and desolate without an inhabitant.

JPS—

ThomsonEgypt was a beautiful heifer; a detachment from the north came against her.

BrentonEgypt is a fair heifer, but destruction from the north is come upon her.

GreekΔάμαλις κεκαλλωπισμένη Αἴγυπτος, ἀπόσπασμα ἀπὸ Βοῤῥᾶ ἦλθεν ἐπʼ αὐτὴν,

KJVEgypt is like a very fair heifer, but destruction cometh; it cometh out of the north.

JPSEgypt is a very fair heifer; But the gadfly out of the north is come, it is come.

ThomsonAnd the mercenaries, which she had with her, were like fatted bulls which she had fed. For they turned and fled with one consent: they made no stand, because the day of destruction came upon them and the time of their visitation.

BrentonAlso her hired soldiers in the midst of her are as fatted calves fed in her; for they also have turned, and fled with one accord: they stood not, for the day of destruction was come upon them, and the time of their retribution.

Greekκαὶ οἱ μισθωτοὶ αὐτῆς ἐν αὐτῇ, ὥσπερ μόσχοι σιτευτοὶ τρεφόμενοι ἐν αὐτῇ· διότι καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐπεστράφησαν, καὶ ἔφυγον ὁμοθυμαδόν· οὐκ ἔστησαν, ὅτι ἡμέρα ἀπωλείας ἦλθεν ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς, καὶ καιρὸς ἐκδικήσεως αὐτῶν.

KJVAlso her hired men are in the midst of her like fatted bullocks; for they also are turned back, and are fled away together: they did not stand, because the day of their calamity was come upon them, and the time of their visitation.

JPSAlso her mercenaries in the midst of her Are like calves of the stall, For they also are turned back, they are fled away together, They did not stand; For the day of their calamity is come upon them, The time of their visitation.

ThomsonTheir sound is that of a hissing serpent; for they march in dust. With axes they will come against her;

BrentonTheir voice is as that of a hissing serpent, for they go upon the sand; they shall come upon Egypt with axes, as men that cut wood.

GreekΦωνὴ αὐτῶν ὡς ὄφεως συρίζοντος, ὅτι ἐν ἄμμῳ πορεύονται, ἐν ἀξίναις ἥξουσιν ἐπʼ αὐτήν·

KJVThe voice thereof shall go like a serpent; for they shall march with an army, and come against her with axes, as hewers of wood.

JPSThe sound thereof shall go like the serpent’s; For they march with an army, And come against her with axes, As hewers of wood.

Thomsonlike fellers of timber they will cut down her groves, saith the Lord. Because she would not be assimilated. Because she increaseth more than locusts which are innumerable,

BrentonThey shall cut down her forest, saith the Lord, for their number cannot at all be conjectured, for it exceeds the locust in multitude, and they are innumerable.

Greekὡς κόπτοντες ξύλα ἐκκόψουσι τὸν δρυμὸν αὐτῆς, λέγει Κύριος, ὅτι οὐ μὴ εἰκασθῇ, ὅτι πληθύνει ὑπὲρ ἀκρίδα, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτοῖς ἀριθμός.

KJVThey shall cut down her forest, saith the LORD, though it cannot be searched; because they are more than the grasshoppers, and are innumerable.

JPSThey cut down her forest, saith the LORD, Though it cannot be searched; Because they are more than the locusts, And are innumerable.

Thomsonthe daughter of Egypt is put to shame; she is delivered into the hands of a people from the north.

BrentonThe daughter of Egypt is confounded; she is delivered into the hands of a people from the north.

GreekΚατῃσχύνθη ἡ θυγάτηρ Αἰγύπτου, παρεδόθη εἰς χεῖρας λαοῦ ἀπὸ Βοῤῥᾶ.

KJVThe daughter of Egypt shall be confounded; she shall be delivered into the hand of the people of the north.

JPSThe daughter of Egypt is put to shame; She is delivered into the hand of the people of the north.

ThomsonBehold I will punish her son Ammon in the person of Pharao, and in the persons of them who trusted in him.

BrentonBehold, I will avenge Ammon her son upon Pharao, and upon them that trust in him.

GreekἸδοὺ ἐγὼ ἐκδικῶ τὸν Ἀμμὼν τὸν υἱὸν αὐτῆς ἐπὶ Φαραὼ, καὶ ἐπὶ τοὺς πεποιθότας ἐπʼ αὐτῷ.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonBut thou Jacob My servant be not afraid; and thou Israel be not dismayed. For behold I will save thee from afar and thy seed from their captivity. And Jacob shall return and enjoy rest and sleep; and there shall be none to discompose him.

BrentonBut fear not thou, my servant Jacob, neither be thou alarmed, Israel: for, behold, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and be at ease, and sleep, and there shall be no one to trouble him.

GreekΣὺ δὲ μὴ φοβηθῇς δοῦλός μου Ἰακὼβ, μηδὲ πτοηθῇς Ἰσραήλ· διότι ἐγὼ ἰδοὺ σώζων σε μακρόθεν, καὶ τὸ σπέρμα σου ἐκ τῆς αἰχμαλωσίας αὐτῶν· καὶ ἀναστρέψει Ἰακὼβ, καὶ ἡσυχάσει καὶ ὑπνώσει, καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ὁ παρενοχλῶν αὐτόν.

KJVBut fear not thou, O my servant Jacob, and be not dismayed, O Israel: for, behold, I will save thee from afar off, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and be in rest and at ease, and none shall make him afraid.

JPSBut fear not thou, O Jacob My servant, Neither be dismayed, O Israel; For, lo, I will save thee from afar, And thy seed from the land of their captivity; And Jacob shall again be quiet and at ease, And none shall make him afraid.

ThomsonFear not, My servant Jacob, saith the Lord, since I am with thee. This fearless and luxurious one is delivered up, for I will make an end of every nation to which I have driven thee; But of thee I will not make an entire end. But I will correct thee for judgment and not suffer thee to go unpunished.

BrentonFear not thou, my servant Jacob, saith the Lord; for I am with thee: she that was without fear and in luxury, has been delivered up: for I will make a full end of every nation among whom I have thrust thee forth; but I will not cause thee to fail: yet will I chastise thee in the way of judgment, and will not hold thee entirely guiltless.

GreekΜὴ φοβοῦ παῖς μου Ἰακὼβ, λέγει Κύριος, ὅτι μετὰ σοῦ ἐγώ εἰμι· ἡ ἀπτόητος καὶ τρυφερὰ παρεδόθη· ὅτι ποιήσω ἔθνει συντέλειαν ἐν παντὶ ἔθνει εἰς οὓς ἔξωσά σε ἐκεῖ, σὲ δὲ οὐ μὴ ποιήσω ἐκλιπεῖν, καὶ παιδεύσω σε εἰς κρίμα, καὶ ἀθῶον οὐκ ἀθωώσω σε.

KJVFear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the LORD: for I am with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished.

JPSFear not thou, O Jacob My servant, saith the LORD, For I am with thee; For I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee, But I will not make a full end of thee; And I will correct thee in measure, But will not utterly destroy thee.