Ezekiel 21:6–17

6 “But you, son of man, groan! Groan bitterly with a broken heartB right before their eyes. 7 And when they ask you, ‘Why are you groaning?’ then say, ‘Because of the news that is coming.z Every heart will melt, and every hand will become weak. Every spirit will be discouraged, and all knees will run with urine.C Yes, it is coming and it will happen. This is the declaration of the Lord God.’ ”

8 The word of the Lord came to me: 9 “Son of man, prophesy, ‘This is what the Lord says!’ You are to proclaim,

‘A sword!aa A sword is sharpened

and also polished.ab

10 It is sharpened for slaughter,

polished to flash like lightning!

Should we rejoice?

The scepter of my son,

the sword despises every tree.D

11 The sword is given to be polished,

to be grasped in the hand.

It is sharpened, and it is polished,

to be put in the hand of the slayer.’a

12 “Cry out and wail, son of man, for it is against my people. It is against all the princes of Israel! They are given over to the sword with my people. Therefore strike your thigh in grief.b 13 Surely it will be a trial! And what if the sword despises even the scepter? The scepter will not continue.”D This is the declaration of the Lord God.

14 “So you, son of man, prophesy and clap your hands together:c

Let the sword strike two times, even three.

It is a sword for massacre,

a sword for great massacre—

it surroundsA them!

15 I have appointed a swordd for slaughterB

at all their gates,

so that their hearts may melt

and many may stumble.

Yes! It is ready to flash like lightning;e

it is drawnB for slaughter.

16 Slash to the right;

turn to the left—

wherever your blade is directed.

17 I also will clap my hands together, and I will satisfy my wrath.f I, the Lord, have spoken.”