Ezekiel 21:8-27

8Say to the land of Israel, thus says Adonai Elohim: ‘Behold, I am against you. I will draw My sword from its sheath. I will cut off the righteous and the wicked from you.

9Since I will cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked, therefore My sword will come out of its sheath against all flesh from the south to the north.

10All flesh will know that I, Adonai, have drawn My sword from its sheath; it will not return any more.

11As for you, son of man, groan, with breaking of your sides and with bitterness you will groan before their eyes.

12Now when they ask you, ‘Why are you groaning?’ you will say, ‘Because of the news that is coming. Every heart will melt, every hand will be limp, every spirit will be faint, and all knees will turn to water. Behold, it is coming, and it will happen!’” It is a declaration of Adonai Elohim.

13The word of Adonai came to me saying,

14“Son of man, prophesy and say, thus says Adonai, and say: ‘A sword! A sword! Sharpened and also polished!

15Sharpened to slaughter ruthlessly! Polished so it will flash like lightning! Or should we rejoice? It is the rod, My son—despising every tree!

16It is given to be polished, to be seized. The sword is sharpened, polished, to be put into the hand of the slayer.

17Cry and wail, son of man! For it is against My people. It is against all the leaders of Israel. They are thrown over to the sword, along with My people. Therefore strike your thigh.

18For it is a testing. What if they scorn even the rod? It must not be!” It is a declaration of Adonai.

19You, son of man, prophesy. Strike your hands together. The sword will strike twice, even three times, a sword for the slain, a sword for a great slaughter—it surrounds them!

20So that their hearts will melt and many will stumble and fall, I have set the point of the sword against all their gates. Alas! It is made for lightning, it is polished for slaughter.

21Slash to the right, turn to the left—wherever your blade is meeting!

22I also will clap My hands together. So I will satisfy My wrath. I, Adonai, have spoken.’”

23The word of Adonai came to me saying:

24“Now you, son of man, mark two ways for the sword of the king of Babylon to come. Both of them should originate from the same land. Mark a signpost; cut it out at the start of the road to the city.

25You are to mark out a way, so the sword can come to Rabbah of the children of Ammon and to Judah in fortified Jerusalem.

26For the king of Babylon stands at the fork in the road, at the start of the two roads, to seek divination. He shakes the arrows, consults the idols, he looks in the liver.

27In his right hand is the lot for Jerusalem—to set up battering rams, to open the mouth for slaughter, to lift up the voice with a war cry, to set up battering rams against the gates, to cast up ramps, to build a siege wall.