21 The foreign soldiers you hiredwill turn and run.But they are doomed,like well-fed calvesbeing led to the butcher.*
22 The enemy army will go forwardlike a swarm of locusts.Your troops will feel helpless,like a snake in a forest
23 when men with axesstart chopping down trees.It can only hissand try to escape.
24 Your people will be disgracedand captured by the enemyfrom the north.
25 I am the Lord All-Powerful, the God of Israel. Soon I will punish the god Amon of Thebes and the other Egyptian gods, the Egyptian kings, the people of Egypt, and everyone who trusts in the Egyptian power.
26 I will hand them over to King Nebuchadnezzar and his army. But I also promise that Egypt will someday have people living here again, just as it had before. I, the Lord, have spoken.
27 Israel, don't be afraid.Someday I will bring you homefrom foreign lands.You and your descendantswill live in peace and safety,with nothing to fear.