God’s Sword of Judgment

1  וַיְהִ֥י (And came) דְבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) אֵלַ֥י (to me) לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 2  בֶּן־ (Son) אָדָ֗ם (of man), שִׂ֤ים (set) פָּנֶ֙יךָ֙ (your face) אֶל־ (toward) יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם (Jerusalem), וְהַטֵּ֖ף (and preach) אֶל־ (against) מִקְדָּשִׁ֑ים (the sanctuaries), וְהִנָּבֵ֖א (and prophesy) אֶל־ (against) אַדְמַ֥ת (the land) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel), 3  וְאָמַרְתָּ֞ (and say) לְאַדְמַ֣ת (to the land) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (of Israel), כֹּ֚ה (thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH); הִנְנִ֣י (Behold, I am) אֵלַ֔יִךְ (against you) וְהוֹצֵאתִ֥י (and I will draw) חַרְבִּ֖י (My sword) מִתַּעְרָ֑הּ (from its sheath), וְהִכְרַתִּ֥י (and I will cut off) מִמֵּ֖ךְ (from you), צַדִּ֥יק (the righteous one) וְרָשָֽׁע׃ (and the wicked one). 4  יַ֛עַן (Because) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) הִכְרַ֥תִּי (I will cut off) מִמֵּ֖ךְ (from you) צַדִּ֣יק (the righteous one) וְרָשָׁ֑ע (and the wicked one), לָ֠כֵן (therefore) תֵּצֵ֨א (will go forth) חַרְבִּ֧י (My sword) מִתַּעְרָ֛הּ (from its sheath) אֶל־ (against) כָּל־ (all) בָּשָׂ֖ר (flesh) מִנֶּ֥גֶב (from south) צָפֽוֹן׃ (to north). 5  וְיָֽדְעוּ֙ (And will know) כָּל־ (all) בָּשָׂ֔ר (flesh) כִּ֚י (that) אֲנִ֣י (I) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) הוֹצֵ֥אתִי (have drawn) חַרְבִּ֖י (My sword) מִתַּעְרָ֑הּ (from its sheath). לֹ֥א (Not) תָשׁ֖וּב (it will return) עֽוֹד׃ס (anymore).

6  וְאַתָּ֥ה (And you) בֶן־ (son) אָדָ֖ם (of man), הֵֽאָנַ֑ח (groan) בְּשִׁבְר֤וֹן (with the breaking) מָתְנַ֙יִם֙ (of loins); וּבִמְרִיר֔וּת (and with bitterness) תֵּֽאָנַ֖ח (groan) לְעֵינֵיהֶֽם׃ (before their eyes). 7  וְהָיָה֙ (And it will come to pass), כִּֽי־ (when) יֹאמְר֣וּ (they say) אֵלֶ֔יךָ (to you) עַל־ (For) מָ֖ה (what) אַתָּ֣ה (are you)? נֶאֱנָ֑ח (Sighing) וְאָמַרְתָּ֡ (that you will answer), אֶל־ (Because) שְׁמוּעָ֣ה (of the news); כִֽי־ (that) בָאָ֡ה (is coming); וְנָמֵ֣ס (and will melt), כָּל־ (every) לֵב֩ (heart) וְרָפ֨וּ (and will become feeble), כָל־ (all) יָדַ֜יִם (hands) וְכִהֲתָ֣ה (and will faint), כָל־ (every) ר֗וּחַ (spirit) וְכָל־ (and all) בִּרְכַּ֙יִם֙ (knees) תֵּלַ֣כְנָה (will turn to) מַּ֔יִם (water). הִנֵּ֤ה (Behold), בָאָה֙ (it is coming), וְנִֽהְיָ֔תָה (and it will come to pass), נְאֻ֖ם (a declaration) אֲדֹנָ֥י (of the Lord) יְהוִֽה׃פ (YHWH).

8  וַיְהִ֥י (And came) דְבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) אֵלַ֥י (to me) לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 9  בֶּן־ (Son) אָדָ֕ם (of man), הִנָּבֵא֙ (prophesy), וְאָ֣מַרְתָּ֔ (and say), כֹּ֖ה (thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) אֲדֹנָ֑י (the Lord); אֱמֹ֕ר (Say),

חֶ֥רֶב (A sword), חֶ֛רֶב (a sword) הוּחַ֖דָּה (is sharpened),

וְגַם־ (also) מְרוּטָֽה׃ (polished)!

10  לְמַ֨עַן (In order) טְבֹ֤חַ (to slaughter) טֶ֙בַח֙ (a slaughter); הוּחַ֔דָּה (it is sharpened)

לְמַעַן־ (in order that) הֱיֵה־ (it may become); לָ֥הּ (for it) בָּ֖רָק (lightning); מֹרָ֑טָּה (it is polished)

א֣וֹ (Or) נָשִׂ֔ישׂ (should we rejoice)? שֵׁ֥בֶט (In the scepter) בְּנִ֖י (of My son),

מֹאֶ֥סֶת (it is despising) כָּל־ (every) עֵֽץ׃ (such stick).

11  וַיִּתֵּ֥ן (And He has given) אֹתָ֛הּ (it) לְמָרְטָ֖ה (to be polished),

לִתְפֹּ֣שׂ (to grasp) בַּכָּ֑ף (in his palm); הִֽיא־ (it)

הוּחַ֤דָּה (is sharpened), חֶ֙רֶב֙ (the sword) וְהִ֣יא (and it) מֹרָ֔טָּה (is polished),

לָתֵ֥ת (to be given) אוֹתָ֖הּ (it) בְּיַד־ (into the hand) הוֹרֵֽג׃ (of the one slaying).

12  זְעַ֤ק (Cry) וְהֵילֵל֙ (and wail),

בֶּן־ (O son) אָדָ֔ם (of man);

כִּי־ (for) הִיא֙ (it) הָיתָ֣ה (shall be) בְעַמִּ֔י (upon my people),

הִ֖יא (it is) בְּכָל־ (against all) נְשִׂיאֵ֣י (the princes) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel).

מְגוּרֵ֤י (They are cast) אֶל־ (to) חֶ֙רֶב֙ (the sword) הָי֣וּ (they will be) אֶת־ (upon) עַמִּ֔י (My people),

לָכֵ֖ן (therefore) סְפֹ֥ק (strike) אֶל־ (upon) יָרֵֽךְ׃ (your thigh).

13  כִּ֣י (For) בֹ֔חַן (there is a testing),

וּמָ֕ה (and what) אִם־ (if) גַּם־ (even) שֵׁ֥בֶט (the scepter)?

מֹאֶ֖סֶת (It is despising)

לֹ֣א (not) יִֽהְיֶ֑ה (does continue)

נְאֻ֖ם (a declaration) אֲדֹנָ֥י (of the Lord) יְהוִֽה׃פ (YHWH).

14  וְאַתָּ֣ה (And you) בֶן־ (son) אָדָ֔ם (of man),

הִנָּבֵ֕א (prophesy), וְהַ֖ךְ (and strike), כַּ֣ף (-) אֶל־ (together) כָּ֑ף (the palm)

וְתִכָּפֵ֞ל (and let come twice) חֶ֤רֶב (the sword)

שְׁלִישִׁ֙תָה֙ (a third time),

חֶ֣רֶב (the sword) חֲלָלִ֔ים (of the slain).

הִ֗יא (It is) חֶ֚רֶב (the sword) חָלָ֣ל (of slaughter), הַגָּד֔וֹל (great)

הַחֹדֶ֖רֶת (that is surrounding) לָהֶֽם׃ (them).

15  לְמַ֣עַן׀ (In order) לָמ֣וּג (to melt), לֵ֗ב (the heart)

וְהַרְבֵּה֙ (and to increase); הַמִּכְשֹׁלִ֔ים (those stumbling)

עַ֚ל (against) כָּל־ (all) שַׁ֣עֲרֵיהֶ֔ם (their gates),

נָתַ֖תִּי (I have appointed) אִבְחַת־ (for slaughter) חָ֑רֶב (a sword)

אָ֛ח (ah)! עֲשׂוּיָ֥ה (It is made) לְבָרָ֖ק (as lighting),

מְעֻטָּ֥ה (it is grasped) לְטָֽבַח׃ (for slaughter).

16  הִתְאַחֲדִ֥י (Sword, be as one), הֵימִ֖נִי (and go to the right),

הָשִׂ֣ימִי (set yourself) הַשְׂמִ֑ילִי (and go to the left),

אָ֖נָה (wherever) פָּנַ֥יִךְ (your face) מֻעָדֽוֹת׃ (is appointed).

17  וְגַם־ (And also) אֲנִ֗י (I) אַכֶּ֤ה (will strike) כַפִּי֙ (My palm), אֶל־ (to) כַּפִּ֔י (My palm)

וַהֲנִחֹתִ֖י (and I will cause to rest); חֲמָתִ֑י (My fury)

אֲנִ֥י (I) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) דִּבַּֽרְתִּי׃פ (have spoken).

18  וַיְהִ֥י (And came) דְבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) אֵלַ֥י (to me) לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 19  וְאַתָּ֨ה (And you) בֶן־ (son) אָדָ֜ם (of man), שִׂים־ (set) לְךָ֣׀ (for yourself) שְׁנַ֣יִם (two) דְּרָכִ֗ים (ways), לָבוֹא֙ (to go); חֶ֣רֶב (for the sword) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (of the king) בָּבֶ֔ל (of Babylon) מֵאֶ֥רֶץ (land) אֶחָ֖ד (from one) יֵצְא֣וּ (they will come forth) שְׁנֵיהֶ֑ם (the two of them) וְיָ֣ד (and a signpost), בָּרֵ֔א (create) בְּרֹ֥אשׁ (at the head) דֶּֽרֶךְ־ (of the way) עִ֖יר (to the city) בָּרֵֽא׃ (create it). 20  דֶּ֣רֶךְ (A way), תָּשִׂ֔ים (appoint) לָב֣וֹא (for the coming of) חֶ֔רֶב (the sword) אֵ֖ת (to) רַבַּ֣ת (Rabbah of) בְּנֵֽי־ (the sons) עַמּ֑וֹן (of Ammon) וְאֶת־ (and to) יְהוּדָ֥ה (Judah) בִירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם (into Jerusalem) בְּצוּרָֽה׃ (fortified).

21  כִּֽי־ (For) עָמַ֨ד (stands) מֶלֶךְ־ (the king) בָּבֶ֜ל (of Babylon) אֶל־ (at) אֵ֣ם (the parting) הַדֶּ֗רֶךְ (of the way), בְּרֹ֛אשׁ (at the head) שְׁנֵ֥י (of the two) הַדְּרָכִ֖ים (ways), לִקְסָם־ (to divine) קָ֑סֶם (with divination); קִלְקַ֤ל (he shakes) בַּֽחִצִּים֙ (the arrows), שָׁאַ֣ל (he inquires of) בַּתְּרָפִ֔ים (the teraphim), רָאָ֖ה (he looks) בַּכָּבֵֽד׃ (at the liver).

22  בִּֽימִינ֞וֹ (In his right hand) הָיָ֣ה׀ (is) הַקֶּ֣סֶם (the divination) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם (for Jerusalem), לָשׂ֤וּם (to set up) כָּרִים֙ (battering rams), לִפְתֹּ֤חַ (to open) פֶּה֙ (the mouth) בְּרֶ֔צַח (with shattering), לְהָרִ֥ים (to lift high) ק֖וֹל (the voice) בִּתְרוּעָ֑ה (with shouting), לָשׂ֤וּם (to set) כָּרִים֙ (battering rams) עַל־ (against) שְׁעָרִ֔ים (the gates), לִשְׁפֹּ֥ךְ (to heap up) סֹלְלָ֖ה (a mound), לִבְנ֥וֹת (and to build) דָּיֵֽק׃ (a wall). 23  וְהָיָ֨ה (And it will be) לָהֶ֤ם (to them) כִּקְסוֹם (divination) שָׁוְא֙ (empty) בְּעֵ֣ינֵיהֶ֔ם (in their eyes), שְׁבֻעֵ֥י (those having sworn) שְׁבֻע֖וֹת (oaths). לָהֶ֑ם (With them) וְהֽוּא־ (and he) מַזְכִּ֥יר (will call to remembrance) עָוֺ֖ן (their guilt), לְהִתָּפֵֽשׂ׃פ (to take them captive).

24  לָכֵ֗ן (Therefore) כֹּֽה־ (thus) אָמַר֮ (says) אֲדֹנָ֣י (the Lord) יְהוִה֒ (YHWH); יַ֗עַן (Because) הַזְכַּרְכֶם֙ (you⁺ have made to be remembered), עֲוֺ֣נְכֶ֔ם (your⁺ iniquity) בְּהִגָּל֣וֹת (in being uncovered), פִּשְׁעֵיכֶ֗ם (your⁺ transgressions) לְהֵֽרָאוֹת֙ (to cause to be seen); חַטֹּ֣אותֵיכֶ֔ם (your⁺ sins) בְּכֹ֖ל (in all) עֲלִילֽוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם (your⁺ deeds) יַ֚עַן (because of), הִזָּ֣כֶרְכֶ֔ם (your⁺ being remembered), בַּכַּ֖ף (in hand) תִּתָּפֵֽשׂוּ׃פ (you⁺ shall be taken).

25  וְאַתָּה֙ (And you), חָלָ֣ל (O profane) רָשָׁ֔ע (and wicked) נְשִׂ֖יא (prince) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel), אֲשֶׁר־ (for whom)

בָּ֣א (has come), יוֹמ֔וֹ (his day) בְּעֵ֖ת (in the time) עֲוֺ֥ן (of your punishment at) קֵֽץ׃ס (the end),

26  כֹּ֤ה (thus) אָמַר֙ (says) אֲדֹנָ֣י (the Lord) יְהוִ֔ה (YHWH)

הָסִיר֙ (Turn aside) הַמִּצְנֶ֔פֶת (the turban),

וְהָרִ֖ים (and lift off) הָֽעֲטָרָ֑ה (the crown);

זֹ֣את (this will) לֹא־ (no longer) זֹ֔את (be the same);

הַשָּׁפָ֣לָה (the low), הַגְבֵּ֔הַ (make high)

וְהַגָּבֹ֖הַ (and the high) הַשְׁפִּֽיל׃ (make low).

27  עַוָּ֥ה (A ruin) עַוָּ֖ה (a ruin)

עַוָּ֣ה (a ruin), אֲשִׂימֶ֑נָּה (I will make it)

גַּם־ (And) זֹאת֙ (it) לֹ֣א (not) הָיָ֔ה (will be)

עַד־ (until) בֹּ֛א (He comes) אֲשֶׁר־ (whose) ל֥וֹ (it is)

הַמִּשְׁפָּ֖ט (the judgment) וּנְתַתִּֽיו׃פ (to Him I have assigned).

28  וְאַתָּ֣ה (And you), בֶן־ (son) אָדָ֗ם (of man), הִנָּבֵ֤א (prophesy) וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֙ (and say), כֹּ֤ה (thus) אָמַר֙ (says) אֲדֹנָ֣י (the Lord) יְהֹוִ֔ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (concerning) בְּנֵ֥י (the sons) עַמּ֖וֹן (of Ammon) וְאֶל־ (and concerning) חֶרְפָּתָ֑ם (their scorn); וְאָמַרְתָּ֗ (and you shall say)

חֶ֣רֶב (A sword), חֶ֤רֶב (a sword)

פְּתוּחָה֙ (is opened), לְטֶ֣בַח (for slaughter)

מְרוּטָ֔ה (it is polished), לְהָכִ֖יל (for consuming)

לְמַ֥עַן (in order) בָּרָֽק׃ (to be like lightning);

29  בַּחֲז֥וֹת (in seeing) לָךְ֙ (for you) שָׁ֔וְא (falsehood)

בִּקְסָם־ (in divining) לָ֖ךְ (to you) כָּזָ֑ב (a lie)

לָתֵ֣ת (to put) אוֹתָ֗ךְ (you) אֶֽל־ (on) צַוְּארֵי֙ (the necks)

חַֽלְלֵ֣י (of the wounded), רְשָׁעִ֔ים (of the wicked),

אֲשֶׁר־ (whose) בָּ֣א (has come), יוֹמָ֔ם (day)

בְּעֵ֖ת (in the time) עֲוֺ֥ן (of the iniquity) קֵֽץ׃ (of the end).

30  הָשַׁ֖ב (Return it) אֶל־ (to) תַּעְרָ֑הּ (its sheath)?

בִּמְק֧וֹם (In the place) אֲשֶׁר־ (where) נִבְרֵ֛את (you were created),

בְּאֶ֥רֶץ (in the land) מְכֻרוֹתַ֖יִךְ (of your origin)

אֶשְׁפֹּ֥ט (I will judge) אֹתָֽךְ׃ (you).

31  וְשָׁפַכְתִּ֤י (And I will pour out) עָלַ֙יִךְ֙ (on you) זַעְמִ֔י (My anger)

בְּאֵ֥שׁ (with the fire) עֶבְרָתִ֖י (of My wrath), אָפִ֣יחַ (I will blow) עָלָ֑יִךְ (against you)

וּנְתַתִּ֗יךְ (and I will give you) בְּיַד֙ (into the hands) אֲנָשִׁ֣ים (of men), בֹּֽעֲרִ֔ים (brutish)

חָרָשֵׁ֖י (craftsmen) מַשְׁחִֽית׃ (of destruction).

32  לָאֵ֤שׁ (For the fire); תִּֽהְיֶה֙ (you will be) לְאָכְלָ֔ה (as food)

דָּמֵ֥ךְ (your blood) יִהְיֶ֖ה (will be) בְּת֣וֹךְ (in the midst) הָאָ֑רֶץ (of the land);

לֹ֣א (not) תִזָּכֵ֔רִי (will you be remembered),

כִּ֛י (Indeed) אֲנִ֥י (I) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) דִּבַּֽרְתִּי׃פ (have spoken).