6. Ezekiel, groan in sorrow and despair so that everyone can hear you.
7. When they ask why you are groaning, tell them you have terrifying news that will make them faint and tremble in fear and lose all courage. These things will happen soon. I, the Lord God, make this promise!
8. The Lord said:
9-10. Ezekiel, son of man, tell the people of Jerusalem:I have sharpened my swordto slaughter you;it is shiny and will flashlike lightning!Don't celebrate—punishment is coming,because everyone has ignoredmy warnings.
11. My sword has been polished;it's sharp and ready to kill.
12. Groan in sorrow, Ezekiel;the sword is drawn againstmy people and their leaders.They will die!So give up all hope.
13. I am testing my people,and they can do nothingto stop me.I, the Lord, have spoken.
14. Ezekiel, warn my people,then celebrate my victoryby clapping your hands.My vicious sword will attackagain and again,killing my peoplewith every stroke.
15. They will lose all courageand stumble with fear.My slaughtering swordis waiting at every gate,flashing and ready to kill.
16. It will slash right and left,wherever the blade is pointed.
17. Then I will stop being angry,and I will clap my handsin victory.I, the Lord, have spoken.
18. The Lord said:
19. Ezekiel, son of man, mark two roads for the king of Babylonia to follow when he comes with his sword. The roads will begin at the same place, but be sure to put up a signpost where the two roads separate and go in different directions.
20. Clearly mark where the two roads lead. One goes to Rabbah, the capital of Ammon, and the other goes to Jerusalem, the fortified capital of Judah.
21. When the Babylonian king stands at that signpost, he will decide which way to go by shaking his arrows, by asking his idols, and by carefully looking at the liver of a sacrificed animal.
22. His right hand will pull out the arrow marked “Jerusalem”. Then he will immediately give the signal to shout the battle cry, to build earth ramps to the top of the city walls, to break down its walls and gates with large wooden poles, and to kill the people.