Ezekiel 21:12-21

12“ ‘Cry and mourn, son of man, because the sword will be used against my people and against all the princes of Israel. I will throw the princes and my people on the sword. So beat your breast, and grieve.

13Testing will surely come. What if you refuse to be disciplined again? Won’t you be tested? declares the Almighty Lord.

14So prophesy, son of man. Clap your hands! Let the sword strike again and again. It’s the sword for killing. It’s the sword for killing many people. It’s the sword that surrounds them.

15I have appointed my sword to slaughter people at all their gates so that their hearts will sink and many will die. Yes! It’s ready to flash like lightning. It’s polished to kill.

16Sword, cut to the right. Cut to the left or wherever your blade is turned.

17I will also clap my hands and rest from my fury. I, the Lord, have spoken.’ ”

18The Lord spoke his word to me. He said,

19“Son of man, mark two roads that the king of Babylon and his sword can take. Both of these roads should start from the same country. Make a sign, and put it where the roads start to fork toward the cities.

20Mark the road that the king and his sword can take to the Ammonite city of Rabbah, and mark the road that leads to Judah and the fortified city of Jerusalem.

21The king of Babylon will stop where the roads branch off, where there is a fork in the road. Then he will look for omens. He will shake some arrows, ask his household gods for help, and examine animal livers.