Ezekiel 21:1-32

YAHWEH spoke to me again, saying, “Son of man, turn toward Jerusalem and denounce her place of worship. Prophesy against the land of Israel and say to the people, ‘YAHWEH says to you: I am your enemy, and I am about to draw my sword and destroy the good and evil alike. I am going to use my drawn sword to cut off the upright and wicked alike, everyone alive from the south to the north. Then everyone will know that I, YAHWEH, am the one who has unsheathed my sword, and I will not put it back again!’ “Son of man, groan with bitter grief before their eyes. Groan as though your heart is breaking with sorrow. And when they ask, ‘Why these groans?’ reply, ‘Because of what I’ve heard is about to happen. Every heart will melt with fear, and every hand grow limp. Everyone will faint with fright and wet themselves. Behold, it is coming now! It is here!’ I, Lord YAHWEH, have spoken.” YAHWEH YAHWEH spoke to me again, saying, “Son of man, prophesy the message that I, the Lord, give you: “A sword, a sword of judgment has been sharpened and polished, sharpened for a great slaughter, polished to flash like lightning! Should we rejoice in the dynasty of my son, Judah? No! The sword despises every such stick. I handed over the sword for someone to polish so he can use it, sharp, shiny, and ready for the hand of the executioner. Shout and wail, son of man, for the sword will come against my people, and all the leaders of Israel. They are thrown to the sword like the rest of my people. So beat your breast in anguish, for surely, I am testing my people. What if the scepter of Judah, despised by the sword, does not survive? I, Lord YAHWEH, have spoken. “So prophesy, son of man, and strike hand to hand in anger! Let the sword strike twice, even three times. For the sword is prepared for those to be slain, a mighty sword to terrify, with a great slaughter from every side! This sword will make them stumble and fall, and their hearts will melt with fear. I have posted the threatening sword at every gate to flash like lightning, polished for the slaughter. Slash to the right, and ready on the left, whichever way your blade turns! I also will strike hand to hand in anger and satisfy my fury! I, YAHWEH, have spoken.” Then YAHWEH said to me: “Son of man, mark out two roads for the king of Babylon to come with his sword; both should originate from the same land. Then put up a signpost at the place where the road branches off to the city. Mark out the routes for the sword to come to Rabbah-of-the-Ammonites, and to Judah, and its fortress of Jerusalem. For the king of Babylon is already at the place where the two roads begin. He is consulting his gods to decide which way to go by shuffling arrows and throwing them on the ground to see where they point. He asks his favorite idols for advice, and he examines the liver of a sacrificed animal. It tells him to take the road on the right leading to Jerusalem, so the king decides to go there. His plan is to ready the battering rams to be prepared when he gives the order for slaughter. His army will shout the battle cry and set up the battering rams against the gates. They will make siege ramps and construct siege towers. “The people of Jerusalem will believe that these omens are false, for they have made sworn treaties and think they are safe. But Nebuchadnezzar’s decision to attack will remind them of their sins against God, and as a result, they will be captured. Therefore, Lord YAHWEH says, ‘You have uncovered your waywardness by parading all your evil deeds. You flaunt your sins in everything you do. Because of this, your enemies will capture you by force! “ ‘As for you, wicked and unholy prince of Israel, Lord YAHWEH has a message for you. Your doom is approaching. Your time is up, and I will put an end to your crimes. Take off your royal turban and remove your crown. Everything is about to be turned upside down. Lowly ones will be raised up, and those who seem important now will become nobodies. A ruin, a ruin, I will make this city a ruin —until the one arrives, the rightful ruler. Then I will hand him the crown to rule.’ ” YAHWEH “Son of man, prophesy and announce what I, Lord YAHWEH, say to the mocking Ammonites: ‘A sword, a sword is drawn and ready for slaughter! It is a sharp, polished sword to flash like lightning and to destroy. The visions you had are false. When you consulted your gods about what would happen, their answers were lies. Your day of judgment has come! It’s high time for your punishment to reach its climax. The sword is going to cut off your heads! “ ‘Put the sword back in its scabbard. I will punish you in the land where you were born, the land of your origin. I will vent my fury on you, blow the fire of my rage against you, and hand you over to brutal men whose skill is destruction. You will be fuel for the fire. Babylonian blood will flow in your homeland, and no one will remember anything about you. I, YAHWEH, have spoken.’ ”