6. As for you, son of man, groan with breaking heart and bitter grief, groan before their eyes.
7. It shall be when they say to you, “Why do you groan?” that you shall answer, “Because of the news that is coming. And every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all knees shall be weak as water. It comes and shall be brought to pass,” says the Lord God.
8. Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
9. Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus says the Lord! Say: A sword, a sword is sharpenedand also furbished!
10. It is sharpened to make a slaughter;it is furbished so that it may glitter like lightning.Should we then make cheer, the rod of My son despising every tree?
11. He has given it to be furbished,that it may be handled;the sword is sharpened,and it is furbished to give it into the hand of the slayer.
12. Cry out and howl, son of man;for it shall be against My people,it shall be against all the officials of Israel.Terrors by reason of the swordshall be upon My people;therefore strike your thigh.
13. Because it is a trial, and what if even the rod which despises shall be no more? says the Lord God.
14. You therefore, son of man, prophesyand clap your hands together.And let the sword be doubledthe third time,the sword of the slain.It is the sword of the great one slain,which surrounds them.
15. That their hearts may faint,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 for the slaughter.
16. Show yourself sharp, go to the right hand.Set yourself. Go to the left hand,wherever your edge is set.
17. I will also clap My hands 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. As for you, son of man, appoint two ways for the sword of the king of Babylon to come. Both of them shall come out of one land. And make a signpost. Make it at the head of the way to the city.
20. Appoint a way for the sword to come to Rabbah of the sons of Ammon and to Judah in Jerusalem the fortified.
21. For the king of Babylon stands at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination: He shakes the arrows, he consults the images, he looks in the liver.