Ezekiel 20:45–21:17

45 1Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

46 “Son of man, set your face toward 1Teman, and speak out against the asouth and bprophesy against the cforest 2land of the Negev,

47 and say to the forest of the Negev, ‘Hear the word of the Lord: thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am about to akindle a fire in you, and it will consume every 1green tree in you, as well as every dry tree; the blazing flame will not be quenched and 2bthe whole surface from south to north will be burned by it.

48 “All flesh will see that I, the Lord, have kindled it; it shall anot be quenched.” ’ ”

49 Then I said, “Ah Lord God! They are saying of me, ‘Is he not just speaking aparables?’ ”

Chapter 21

Parable of the Sword of the Lord

1 1And the word of the Lord came to me saying,

2 “Son of man, aset your face toward Jerusalem, and 1bspeak against the sanctuaries and prophesy against the land of Israel;

3 and say to the land of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Behold, aI am against you; and I will draw My sword out of its sheath and cut off from you the brighteous and the wicked.

4 “Because I will cut off from you the righteous and the wicked, therefore My sword will go forth from its sheath against aall flesh from south to north.

5 “Thus all flesh will know that I, the Lord, have drawn My sword out of its sheath. It will anot return to its sheath again.” ’

6 “As for you, son of man, groan with breaking 1heart and bitter grief, groan in their sight.

7 “And when they say to you, ‘Why do you groan?’ you shall say, ‘Because of the anews that is coming; and bevery heart will melt, all hands will be feeble, every spirit will 1faint and all knees will 2be weak as water. Behold, it comes and it will happen,’ declares the Lord 3God.”

8 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

9 “Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the Lord.’ Say,

‘aA sword, a sword sharpened

And also polished!

10 ‘Sharpened to make a aslaughter,

Polished 1to flash like lightning!’

Or shall we rejoice, the 2rod of My son bdespising every tree?

11 “It is given to be polished, that it may be handled; the sword is sharpened and polished, to give it into the hand of the slayer.

12 “aCry out and wail, son of man; for it is against My people, it is against all the bofficials of Israel. They are delivered over to the sword with My people, therefore strike your thigh.

13 “For there is a testing; and what if even the 1rod which despises will be no more?” declares the Lord God.

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

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

16 “1Show yourself sharp, go to the right; set yourself; go to the left, wherever your 2edge is appointed.

17 “I will also clap My hands together, and I will 1aappease My wrath; I, the Lord, have spoken.”