Ezekiel 21:18-27

New International Version

¹⁸ The word of the Lord came to me: ¹⁹ “Son of man, mark out two roads for the sword^(A) of the king of Babylon to take, both starting from the same country. Make a signpost^(B) where the road branches off to the city. ²⁰ Mark out one road for the sword to come against Rabbah of the Ammonites^(C) and another against Judah and fortified Jerusalem. ²¹ For the king of Babylon will stop at the fork in the road, at the junction of the two roads, to seek an omen: He will cast lots^(D) with arrows, he will consult his idols,^(E) he will examine the liver.^{(F) 22} Into his right hand will come the lot for Jerusalem, where he is to set up battering rams, to give the command to slaughter, to sound the battle cry,^(G) to set battering rams against the gates, to build a ramp^(H) and to erect siege works.^{(I) 23} It will seem like a false omen to those who have sworn allegiance to him, but he will remind^(J) them of their guilt^(K) and take them captive.

²⁴ “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because you people have brought to mind your guilt by your open rebellion, revealing your sins in all that you do—because you have done this, you will be taken captive.

²⁵ “‘You profane and wicked prince of Israel, whose day has come,^(L) whose time of punishment has reached its climax,^{(M) 26} this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Take off the turban, remove the crown.^(N) It will not be as it was: The lowly will be exalted and the exalted will be brought low.^{(O) 27} A ruin! A ruin! I will make it a ruin! The crown will not be restored until he to whom it rightfully belongs shall come;^(P) to him I will give it.’^(Q)