Ezekiel 21:1-11 ▼

1 The word of the LORD came to me:

2 Son of man, turn toward Jerusalem and speak out against the sanctuaries. Prophesy against the land of Israel

3 and say to them, 'This is what the LORD says: Look, I am against you. I will draw my sword from its sheath and cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked.

4 Because I will cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked, my sword will go out from its sheath against everyone from the south to the north.

5 Then everyone will know that I am the LORD, who drew my sword from its sheath--it will not be sheathed again!'

6 And you, son of man, groan with an aching heart and bitterness; groan before their eyes.

7 When they ask you, 'Why are you groaning?' you will reply, 'Because of the report that has come. Every heart will melt with fear and every hand will be limp; everyone will faint and every knee will be wet with urine.' Pay attention--it is coming and it will happen, declares the sovereign LORD.|

8 The word of the LORD came to me:

9 Son of man, prophesy and say: 'This is what the Lord says: |'A sword, a sword is sharpened, and also polished.

10 It is sharpened for slaughter, it is polished to flash like lightning! |'Should we rejoice in the scepter of my son? No! The sword despises every tree!

11 'He gave it to be polished, to be grasped in the hand--the sword is sharpened, it is polished--giving it into the hand of the executioner.