Ezekiel 29

1 In the tenth year, in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the Lord’s word came to me. [a] 2 “Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt and prophesy against him and all Egypt.” 3 “Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Look, I am against you, Pharaoh, great serpent lying among your rivers, who says, “The rivers are mine; I made them.”’” 4 “‘I will put hooks in your jaws, make the fish of your river cling to your sides, and bring you up out of the middle of your river with all the fish of your river.’” 5 “‘I will quickly cast you and all the fish of your river down on the open plain. You will not be gathered up or laid out for burial. I have given you as food to the earth’s wild animals and the sky’s birds.’” 6 “‘All Egypt’s residents will know that I am the Lord, because you were a reed staff to the house of Israel.’” 7 “‘When they took hold of you, you broke. When every hand struck against them and they leaned on you, you shattered completely and crushed all their backs.’” 8 “‘Therefore, this is what the Lord says: Look, I will bring a sword against you and remove people and cattle from you.’” 9 “‘Egypt’s land will become ruined and desolate. Then they will know that I am the Lord, because you said, “The rivers are mine; I made them.”’” 10 “‘Therefore, look, I am against you and all your rivers. I will give Egypt over to desolation, sword, and destruction from Migdol and Syene to Ethiopia’s borders.’” 11 “‘No human foot or cattle’s hoof will pass through it, and it will remain uninhabited for forty years.’” 12 “‘I will make its land desolate among desolate lands and its cities desolate among ruined cities for forty years. I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them through the countries.’” 13 “‘This is what the Lord says: After forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the nations where they were scattered.’” 14 “‘I will restore the Egyptian exiles and settle them in Pathros, the land from which they were taken. It will be a lowly kingdom,’” 15 “‘lower than all other kingdoms, and it will no longer exalt itself over the nations. I will make its people few so they cannot become great among the nations.’” 16 “‘Egypt will no longer give the house of Israel hope that recalls lawlessness whenever they follow it. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’” 17 In the twenty-seventh year, on the first day of the first month, the Lord’s word came to me. 18 “Son of man, Babylon’s king Nebuchadnezzar made his army perform difficult service against Tyre. Every head became bald and every shoulder rubbed raw, yet neither he nor his army received wages from Tyre for the labor they spent on it.” 19 “This is what the Lord God says: Look, I will give Egypt’s land to Babylon’s king Nebuchadnezzar. He will carry away its plunder and seize its spoils as wages for his army.” 20 “I gave him Egypt in return for the service he performed against Tyre. This is what the Lord God says.” 21 “On that day, a horn will spring up for the whole house of Israel, and I will open your mouth among them. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”