Ezekiel 21:9–17

⁹“Son of man, prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord says:

‘A sword, a sword,

sharpened and polished —

¹⁰it is sharpened for the slaughter,

polished to flash like lightning!

Should we rejoice in the scepter of My son?

The sword despises every such stick.

¹¹The sword is appointed to be polished,

to be grasped in the hand.

It is sharpened and polished,

to be placed in the hand of the slayer.

¹²Cry out and wail,

O son of man,

for the sword is wielded against My people;

it is against all the princes of Israel!

They are tossed to the sword with My people;

therefore strike your thigh.^a

¹³Surely testing will come!

And what if even the scepter,

which the sword despises,

does not continue?’

declares the Lord GOD.

¹⁴‘So then, son of man,

prophesy and strike your hands together.

Let the sword strike two times,

even three.

It is a sword that slays,

a sword of great slaughter

closing in on every side!

¹⁵So that their hearts may melt

and many may stumble,

I have appointed at all their gates

a sword for slaughter.

Yes, it is ready to flash like lightning;

it is drawn for slaughter.

¹⁶Slash to the right;

set your blade to the left—

wherever your blade is directed.

¹⁷I too will strike My hands together,

and I will satisfy My wrath.’

I, the LORD, have spoken.”