8. Then the lord said to me,
9. “Son of man, give the people this message from the Lord:“A sword, a swordis being sharpened and polished.
10. It is sharpened for terrible slaughterand polished to flash like lightning!Now will you laugh?Those far stronger than you have fallen beneath its power!
11. Yes, the sword is now being sharpened and polished;it is being prepared for the executioner.
12. “Son of man, cry out and wail;pound your thighs in anguish,for that sword will slaughter my people and their leaders—everyone will die!