Ezekiel 21:14–20

14 “So then, son of man, prophesy

and strike your hands together.

Let the sword strike twice,

even three times.

It is a sword for slaughter—

a sword for great slaughter,

closing in on them from every side.

15 So that hearts may melt with fear

and the fallen be many,

I have stationed the sword for slaughter

at all their gates.

Look! It is forged to strike like lightning,

it is grasped for slaughter.

16 Slash to the right, you sword,

then to the left,

wherever your blade is turned.

17 I too will strike my hands together,

and my wrath will subside.

I the Lord have spoken.”

18 The word of the Lord came to me: 19 “Son of man, mark out two roads for the sword of the king of Babylon to take, both starting from the same country. Make a signpost where the road branches off to the city. 20 Mark out one road for the sword to come against Rabbah of the Ammonites and another against Judah and fortified Jerusalem.

14 Thou therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite thine hands together, and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of the slain: it is the sword of the great men that are slain, which entereth into their privy chambers. 15 I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, that their heart may faint, and their ruins be multiplied: ah! it is made bright, it is wrapped up for the slaughter. 16 Go thee one way or other, either on the right hand, or on the left, whithersoever thy face is set. 17 I will also smite mine hands together, and I will cause my fury to rest: I the Lord have said it.

18 The word of the Lord came unto me again, saying, 19 Also, thou son of man, appoint thee two ways, that the sword of the king of Babylon may come: both twain shall come forth out of one land: and choose thou a place, choose it at the head of the way to the city. 20 Appoint a way, that the sword may come to Rabbath of the Ammonites, and to Judah in Jerusalem the defenced.

14 “Son of man, prophesy to them

and clap your hands.

Then take the sword and brandish it twice,

even three times,

to symbolize the great massacre,

the great massacre facing them on every side.

15 Let their hearts melt with terror,

for the sword glitters at every gate.

It flashes like lightning

and is polished for slaughter!

16 O sword, slash to the right,

then slash to the left,

wherever you will,

wherever you want.

17 I, too, will clap my hands,

and I will satisfy my fury.

I, the Lord, have spoken!”

18 Then this message came to me from the Lord: 19 “Son of man, make a map and trace two routes on it for the sword of Babylon’s king to follow. Put a signpost on the road that comes out of Babylon where the road forks into two—20 one road going to Ammon and its capital, Rabbah, and the other to Judah and fortified Jerusalem.

14 “You therefore, son of man, prophesy,

And strike your hands together.

The third time let the sword do double damage.

It is the sword that slays,

The sword that slays the great men,

That enters their private chambers.

15 I have set the point of the sword against all their gates,

That the heart may melt and many may stumble.

Ah! It is made bright;

It is grasped for slaughter:

16 “Swords at the ready!

Thrust right!

Set your blade!

Thrust left—

Wherever your edge is ordered!

17 “I also will beat My fists together,

And I will cause My fury to rest;

I, the Lord, have spoken.”

18 The word of the Lord came to me again, saying: 19 “And son of man, appoint for yourself two ways for the sword of the king of Babylon to go; both of them shall go from the same land. Make a sign; put it at the head of the road to the city. 20 Appoint a road for the sword to go to Rabbah of the Ammonites, and to Judah, into fortified Jerusalem.

14 “So, human, prophesy

and clap your hands.

Let the sword strike

two or three times.

It is a sword meant for killing,

a sword meant for much killing.

This sword surrounds the people to be killed.

15 Their hearts will melt with fear,

and many people will die.

I have placed the killing sword

at all their city gates.

Oh! The sword is made to flash like lightning.

It is held, ready for killing.

16 Sword, cut on the right side;

then cut on the left side.

Cut anywhere your blade is turned.

17 I will also clap my hands

and use up my anger.

I, the Lord, have spoken.”

18 The Lord spoke his word to me, saying: 19 “Human, mark two roads that the king of Babylon and his sword can follow. Both of these roads will start from the same country. And make signs where the road divides and one way goes toward the city. 20 Mark one sign to show the road he can take with his sword to Rabbah in the land of the Ammonites. Mark the other sign to show the road to Judah and Jerusalem, which is protected with strong walls.

14 Thou therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite thy hands together; and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of the deadly wounded: it is the sword of the great one that is deadly wounded, which entereth into their chambers. 15 I have set the threatening sword against all their gates, that their heart may melt, and their stumblings be multiplied: ah! it is made as lightning, it is pointed for slaughter. 16 Gather thee together, go to the right, set thyself in array, go to the left, whithersoever thy face is set. 17 I will also smite my hands together, and I will cause my wrath to rest: I, Jehovah, have spoken it.

18 The word of Jehovah came unto me again, saying, 19 Also, thou son of man, appoint thee two ways, that the sword of the king of Babylon may come; they twain shall come forth out of one land: and mark out a place, mark it out at the head of the way to the city. 20 Thou shalt appoint a way for the sword to come to Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and to Judah in Jerusalem the fortified.

14 And thou, son of man, prophesy, and smite thy hands together; for the strokes of the sword shall be doubled the third time: it is the sword of the slain, the sword that hath slain the great one, which encompasseth them privily. 15 In order that the heart may melt, and the stumbling-blocks be multiplied, I have set the threatening sword against all their gates: ah! it is made glittering, it is whetted for the slaughter. 16 Gather up strength, go to the right hand, turn thee, go to the left, whithersoever thy face is appointed. 17 And I myself will smite my hands together, and I will satisfy my fury: I Jehovah have spoken it.

18 And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, 19 And thou, son of man, set thee two ways, by which the sword of the king of Babylon may come—out of one land shall they both come—and make thee a signpost, make it at the head of the way to the city. 20 Appoint a way for the coming of the sword to Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and to Judah at the fenced city of Jerusalem.

14 So 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. 

15 I 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. 

16 Sword, cut to the right. 

Cut to the left 

or wherever your blade is turned. 

17 I will also clap my hands and rest from my fury. 

I, the Lord, have spoken.’ ” 

18 The 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. 20 Mark 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.

14 Therefore, son of man, prophesy

and clap your hands together.

Let the sword strike two times, even three.

It is a sword for massacre,

a sword for great massacre—

it surrounds them!

15 I have appointed a sword for slaughter

at all their gates,

so that their hearts may melt

and many may stumble.

Yes! It is ready to flash like lightning;

it is drawn 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.

I, Yahweh, have spoken.”

18 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 19 “Now you, son of man, mark out two roads that the sword of Babylon’s king can take. Both of them should originate from the same land. And make a signpost at the fork in the road to each city. 20 Mark out a road that the sword can take to Rabbah of the Ammonites and to Judah into fortified Jerusalem.

14 And you, mortal, prophesy;

strike hand to hand.

Let the sword fall twice, thrice;

it is a sword for killing.

A sword for great slaughter—

it surrounds them;

15 therefore hearts melt,

and many stumble.

At all their gates I have set

the point of the sword.

Ah! It is made for flashing;

it is drawn for slaughter.

16 Attack to the right!

Engage to the left!

—wherever your edge is directed.

17 I, too, will strike hand to hand;

I will satisfy my fury;

I the Lord have spoken.

18 The word of the Lord came to me: 19 Mortal, mark out two roads for the sword of the king of Babylon to come; both of them shall issue from the same land. And make a signpost; make it for a fork in the road leading to a city; 20 mark out the road for the sword to come to Rabbah of the Ammonites or to Judah and to Jerusalem the fortified.

14 And you, son of man, prophesy and clap your hands. And the sword will strike twice; let it happen a third time. It is a sword of the dead, the sword of the great dead that is surrounding them, 15 so that a heart melts, and the fallen multiply at all of their gates. I gave a sword for slaughter, and alas! It is made for flashing, it is grasped for slaughtering. 16 Gather together, strike to the right; cause to go to the left, where your edge is directed. 17 And also I myself will clap my hands, and I will satisfy my rage! I, Yahweh, I have spoken.”

18 And the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, 19 “And you, son of man, mark out for yourself two roads for the coming of the sword of the king of Babylon; they must both go out from the same land. And hew out a signpost; hew it at the head of the road of the city. 20 You must mark a road for the coming of the sword to Rabbah of the Ammonites and to Judah, in Jerusalem the fortified.

14 “Son of man, prophesy.

Clap your hands.

Let the sword strike twice.

Let it strike even three times.

It is a sword to kill people.

It is a sword to kill many people.

It is closing in on them from every side.

15 People’s hearts will melt away in fear.

Many will be wounded or killed.

I have prepared the sword to kill people

at all of their city gates.

It flashes like lightning.

It is in the killer’s hand.

16 Sword, cut to the right.

Then cut to the left.

Strike people down everywhere your blade is turned.

17 I too will clap my hands.

My burning anger will calm down.

I have spoken. I am the Lord.”

18 A message came to me from the Lord. He said, 19 “Son of man, mark out on a map two roads for the sword to take. The sword belongs to the king of Babylonia. Both roads start from the same country. Put up a sign where the road turns off to the city of Rabbah. 20 Mark out one road for the sword to take against Rabbah in Ammon. Mark out another against Judah and the walls of Jerusalem.

14 “You therefore, son of man, prophesy and clap your hands together; and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword for the slain. It is the sword for the great one slain, which surrounds them,

15 that their hearts may melt, and many fall at all their gates. I have given the glittering sword. Ah! It is made for striking like lightning, it is wrapped up in readiness for slaughter.

16 “Show yourself sharp, go to the right; set yourself; go to the left, wherever your edge is appointed.

17 “I will also clap My hands together, and I will appease My wrath; I, the Lord, have spoken.”

18 The word of the Lord came to me saying,

19 “As for you, son of man, make two ways for the sword of the king of Babylon to come; both of them will go out of one land. And make a signpost; make it at the head of the way to the city.

20 “You shall mark a way for the sword to come to Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, and to Judah into fortified Jerusalem.