Ezekiel 21:1-15 ▼

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.

12 Cry out and moan, son of man, for it is wielded against my people; against all the princes of Israel. They are delivered up to the sword, along with my people. Therefore, strike your thigh.

13 |'For testing will come, and what will happen when the scepter, which the sword despises, is no more? declares the sovereign LORD.'

14 |And you, son of man, prophesy, and clap your hands together. Let the sword strike twice, even three times! It is a sword for slaughter, a sword for the great slaughter surrounding them.

15 So hearts melt with fear and many stumble. At all their gates I have stationed the sword for slaughter. Ah! It is made to flash, it is drawn for slaughter!