³ “Prepare your shields,^(F) both large and small,
    and march out for battle!
⁴ Harness the horses,
    mount the steeds!
Take your positions
    with helmets on!
Polish^(G) your spears,
    put on your armor!^(H)
5 What do I see?
    They are terrified,
they are retreating,
    their warriors are defeated.
They flee^(I) in haste
    without looking back,
    and there is terror^(J) on every side,”
declares the Lord.
⁶ “The swift cannot flee^(K)
    nor the strong escape.
In the north by the River Euphrates^(L)
    they stumble and fall.^(M)

⁷ “Who is this that rises like the Nile,
    like rivers of surging waters?^(N)
8 Egypt rises like the Nile,^(O)
    like rivers of surging waters.
She says, ‘I will rise and cover the earth;
    I will destroy cities and their people.’^(P)
9 Charge, you horses!
    Drive furiously, you charioteers!^(Q)
March on, you warriors—men of Cush^[a](R) and Put who carry shields,
    men of Lydia^(S) who draw the bow.

“‘The allies of Egypt will fall
    and her proud strength will fail.
From Migdol to Aswan^(E)
    they will fall by the sword within her,
declares the Sovereign Lord.
⁷ “‘They will be desolate
    among desolate lands,
and their cities will lie
    among ruined cities.^(F)
8 Then they will know that I am the Lord,
    when I set fire^(G) to Egypt
    and all her helpers are crushed.^(H)