Ezekiel 21:1-20

Babylon as God’s Sword of Judgment 1In Hebrew texts 21:1-32 is numbered 21:6-37. The word of the LORD came to me: 2“Son of man, set your face against Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuary. Prophesy against the land of Israel 3and say to her: ‘This is what the LORD says: I am against you. I will draw my sword from its sheath and cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked. 4Because I am going to cut off the righteous and the wicked, my sword will be unsheathed against everyone from south to north.

5Then all people will know that I the LORD have drawn my sword from its sheath; it will not return again.’ 6“Therefore groan, son of man! Groan before them with broken heart and bitter grief.

7And when they ask you, ‘Why are you groaning?’ you shall say, ‘Because of the news that is coming. Every heart will melt with fear and every hand go limp; every spirit will become faint and every leg will be wet with urine.’ It is coming! It will surely take place, declares the Sovereign LORD .” 8The word of the LORD came to me:

9“Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Lord says: “ ‘A sword, a sword, sharpened and polished—

10sharpened for the slaughter, polished to flash like lightning! “ ‘Shall we rejoice in the scepter of my royal son? The sword despises every such stick.

11“ ‘The sword is appointed to be polished, to be grasped with the hand; it is sharpened and polished, made ready for the hand of the slayer.

12Cry out and wail, son of man, for it is against my people; it is against all the princes of Israel. They are thrown to the sword along with my people. Therefore beat your breast.

13“ ‘Testing will surely come. And what if even the scepter, which the sword despises, does not continue? declares the Sovereign LORD .’

14“So then, son of man, prophesy and strike your hands together. Let the sword strike twice, even three times. It is a sword for slaughter— a sword for great slaughter, closing in on them from every side.

15So that hearts may melt with fear and the fallen be many, I have stationed the sword for slaughter Septuagint; the meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain. at all their gates. Look! It is forged to strike like lightning, it is grasped for slaughter.

16Slash to the right, you sword, then to the left, wherever your blade is turned.

17I too will strike my hands together, and my wrath will subside. I the LORD have spoken.” 18The word of the LORD came to me: 19“Son of man, mark out two roads for the sword of the king of Babylon to take, both starting from the same country. Make a signpost where the road branches off to the city. 20Mark out one road for the sword to come against Rabbah of the Ammonites and another against Judah and fortified Jerusalem.