1 This is a message about Egypt:The Lord comes to Egypt,riding swiftly on a cloud.The people are weak from fear.Their idols trembleas he approaches and says,
2 “I will punish Egyptwith civil war—neighbours, cities, and kingdomswill fight each other.
3 “Egypt will be discouragedwhen I confuse their plans.They will try to get advicefrom their idols,from the spirits of the dead,and from fortune-tellers.
4 I will put the Egyptiansunder the power of a cruel,heartless king.I, the Lord All-Powerful,have promised this.”
5 The River Nile will dry upand become parched land.
6 Its streams will stink,Egypt will have no water,and the reeds and tall grasswill dry up.
7 Fields along the Nilewill be completely barren;every plant will disappear.