1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
2. “Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem, preach against the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel;
3. and say to the land of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I am against you, and I will draw My sword out of its sheath and cut off both righteous and wicked from you.
4. Because I will cut off both righteous and wicked from you, therefore My sword shall go out of its sheath against all flesh from south to north,
5. that all flesh may know that I, the Lord, have drawn My sword out of its sheath; it shall not return anymore.” ’
6. Sigh therefore, son of man, with a breaking heart, and sigh with bitterness before their eyes.
7. And it shall be when they say to you, ‘Why are you sighing?’ that you shall answer, ‘Because of the news; when it comes, every heart will melt, all hands will be feeble, every spirit will faint, and all knees will be weak as water. Behold, it is coming and shall be brought to pass,’ says the Lord God.”
8. Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying,