Ezekiel 21:15–16

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.