Ezekiel 21
1 The word of the LORD came to me:
2 “Son of man, turn your face toward the south, preach against the south, and prophesy against the forest of the field in the Negev.
3 And say to the forest of the Negev: ‘Hear the word of the LORD. This is what the Lord GOD says: «I am about to kindle a fire in you, and it will devour every green tree and every dry tree in you. The blazing flame will not be put out, and every face will be scorched by it, from south to north.
4 All flesh will see that I, the LORD, kindled it; it will not be put out.»’”
5 Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! They are saying about me, ‘Isn’t he a teller of parables?’”
6 The word of the LORD came to me:
7 “Son of man, turn your face toward Jerusalem, preach against the sanctuaries, and prophesy against the land of Israel.
8 And say to the land of Israel: ‘This is what the LORD says: «I am against you. I will draw my sword from its sheath and cut off from you the righteous and the wicked.
9 Since I will cut off from you the righteous and the wicked, my sword will therefore come out of its sheath against all flesh, from south to north.
10 Then all flesh will know that I, the LORD, have drawn my sword from its sheath; it will not return again.»’
11 And you, son of man, groan. Groan before their eyes, with your loins broken and in bitterness.
12 When they ask you, ‘Why are you groaning?’ answer, ‘Because of the report that is coming. Every heart will melt, every hand will grow weak, every spirit will lose heart, and every knee will turn to water. It is coming and it will happen, declares the Lord GOD.’”
13 The word of the LORD came to me:
14 “Son of man, prophesy and say: ‘This is what the Lord says. Say: «A sword, a sword! It has been sharpened and polished too.
15 It was sharpened to make a slaughter; it was polished to flash like lightning. Or should we rejoice? The rod of my son despises every piece of wood.
16 He gave it to be polished, to be grasped in the hand. The sword has been sharpened and polished, to be placed in the hand of the killer.»’
17 Cry out and wail, son of man, for it is against my people; it is against all the princes of Israel. They have been handed over to the sword along with my people. So strike your thigh.
18 For it is a test—and what will happen if even the despised rod is no more?—declares the Lord GOD.
19 And you, son of man, prophesy and clap your hands. Let the sword strike twice, even three times: it is the sword of the slain, the sword of the great slaughter, which circles around them.
20 To melt hearts and multiply stumbling, I have set the sword’s flash at all their gates. Ah! It is made to flash; it is drawn for slaughter.
21 Join ranks; go to the right. Take your stand; go to the left, wherever your face is turned.
22 I too will clap my hands, and I will let my fury rest. I, the LORD, have spoken.”
23 The word of the LORD came to me:
24 “And you, son of man, mark out two roads for the sword of the king of Babylon to take. Both roads will come from the same land. Put up a signpost; set it at the beginning of the road to the city.
25 Mark one road for the sword to come against Rabbah of the Ammonites, and against Judah, against fortified Jerusalem.”
26 “For the king of Babylon has stopped at the fork in the road, where the two roads begin, to seek an omen. He shakes the arrows, consults the household idols, and examines the liver.
27 In his right hand was the omen for Jerusalem: to set up battering rams, to open his mouth for slaughter, to raise his voice in a battle cry, to set battering rams against the gates, to build a ramp, and to build a siege wall.
28 But this will seem to them like a false omen; they have sworn solemn oaths. Yet he brings their guilt to mind, so they will be captured.
29 Therefore, this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you have brought your guilt to mind, by exposing your rebellion and revealing your sins in all your deeds—because you have made these things remembered, you will be captured by the hand.
30 And you, wicked slain one, prince of Israel, whose day has come, at the time of final guilt!
31 This is what the Lord GOD says: «Remove the turban and lift off the crown. This will no longer be as it was: the low will be raised, and the high brought low.
32 Ruin, ruin, ruin—I will make it! It too will be no more until the one comes to whom judgment belongs; I will give it to him.»’
33 And you, son of man, prophesy and say: ‘This is what the Lord GOD says concerning the Ammonites and their insult. Say: «A sword, a sword drawn for slaughter, polished to consume, to flash like lightning.
34 While they see false visions for you and divine lies for you, they will put you on the necks of the wicked slain, whose day has come, at the time of final guilt.
35 Return to your sheath! In the place where you were made, in the land of your origin, I will judge you.
36 I will pour out my indignation on you; I will blow on you with the fire of my fury and hand you over to brutal men, skilled in destruction.
37 You will be fuel for the fire; your blood will remain in the midst of the land. You will not be remembered, for I, the LORD, have spoken.»’”
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