4. Because I will cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked, my sword will go out from its sheath against everyone from the south to the north.
5. Then everyone will know that I am the Lord, who drew my sword from its sheath – it will not be sheathed again!’
6. “And you, son of man, groan with an aching heart and bitterness; groan before their eyes.
7. When they ask you, ‘Why are you groaning?’ you will reply, ‘Because of the report that has come. Every heart will melt with fear and every hand will be limp; everyone will faint and every knee will be wet with urine.’ Pay attention – it is coming and it will happen, declares the sovereign Lord.”
8. The word of the Lord came to me:
9. “Son of man, prophesy and say: ‘This is what the Lord says:“‘A sword, a sword is sharpened,and also polished.
10. It is sharpened for slaughter, it is polished to flash like lightning!“‘Should we rejoice in the scepter of my son? No! The sword despises every tree!
11. “‘He gave it to be polished,to be grasped in the hand – the sword is sharpened, it is polished – giving it into the hand of the executioner.
12. Cry out and moan, son of man,for it is wielded against my people;against all the princes of Israel.They are delivered up to the sword, along with my people.Therefore, strike your thigh.
13. “‘For testing will come, and what will happen when the scepter, which the sword despises, is no more? declares the sovereign Lord.’
14. “And you, son of man, prophesy, and clap your hands together.Let the sword strike twice, even three times!It is a sword for slaughter,a sword for the great slaughter surrounding them.
15. So hearts melt with fear and many stumble.At all their gates I have stationed the sword for slaughter.Ah! It is made to flash, it is drawn for slaughter!
16. Cut sharply on the right!Swing to the left, wherever your edge is appointed to strike.
17. I too will clap my hands together,I will exhaust my rage;I the Lord have spoken.”
18. The word of the Lord came to me:
19. “You, son of man, mark out two routes for the king of Babylon’s sword to take; both of them will originate in a single land. Make a signpost and put it at the beginning of the road leading to the city.