2-5. The Message to Egypt and the army of Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt at the time it was defeated by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon while camped at Carchemish on the Euphrates River in the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah:“‘Present arms!March to the front!Harness the horses!Up in the saddles!Battle formation! Helmets on,spears sharpened, armor in place!’But what’s this I see?They’re scared out of their wits!They break ranks and run for cover.Their soldiers panic.They run this way and that,stampeding blindly.It’s total chaos, total confusion, danger everywhere!”God’s Decree.
20-21. “Too bad, Egypt, a beautiful sleek heiferattacked by a horsefly from the north!All her hired soldiers are stationed to defend her—like well-fed calves they are.But when their lives are on the line, they’ll run off,cowards every one.When the going gets tough,they’ll take the easy way out.