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以西结书 21
Chinese New Version (Simplified)
以西结书 21
Chinese New Version (Simplified)
耶和华的刀
21 耶和华的话临到我说：（本节在《马索拉文本》为21:6） 2 “人子啊！你要面向耶路撒冷，向圣所发言，说预言攻击以色列地， 3 你要对以色列地说：‘耶和华这样说：看哪！我要攻击你；我要拔刀出鞘，把义人和恶人都从你那里剪除。 4 我既然要把义人和恶人都从你那里剪除，所以我的刀必要出鞘，从南到北攻击所有的人； 5 所有的人就知道我耶和华已经拔刀出鞘，刀必不再入鞘了。’ 6 人子啊！至于你，你要叹息，在他们眼前弯着腰，苦苦叹息。 7 他们如果问你：‘你为甚么叹息呢？’你就要回答：‘是因为那将要来到的消息；人人都必心慌意乱，手都发软，精神衰颓，他们的膝都像水一般的柔弱。看哪！它要来到了。这事一定要成就。这是主耶和华的宣告。’” 8 耶和华的话临到我说： 9 “人子啊！你要预言，说：‘主耶和华这样说：
有一把刀，有一把磨利了的刀，
是擦亮了的刀；
10 磨利，是为要大行杀戮，
擦亮，是为要闪烁发光！
我们怎能快乐呢？我的儿子藐视管教的杖和一切劝告（“劝告”原文作“木头”）。 11 这刀已经交给人擦亮，可以握在手中使用；这刀已经磨利擦亮了，可以交在行杀戮的人手中。’ 12 人子啊！你要呼喊、哀号。因为这刀要临到我的子民，以及以色列所有的领袖；他们与我的子民都要交在刀下；所以你要拍腿悲叹， 13 因为考验必要来到，你为甚么要藐视那管教的杖呢？这事必不得成功。这是主耶和华的宣告。
14 “人子啊！至于你，你要拍手说预言，要接二连三地使用这杀人的刀，就是导致极大死伤的刀，把它们围困， 15 好使他们心慌意乱，多人跌倒，我在他们所有的城门那里布下了杀戮（“杀戮”这译法是参考古译本，原文意思不详）的人；啊！这刀做得闪烁发光，磨得尖利，可以杀戮。 16 刀啊，向右边斩吧！向左边刺吧！无论你面向哪一方，就向哪一方杀戮吧！ 17 我也要拍手，并且要使我的烈怒止息；这是我耶和华说的。”
巴比伦王的刀
18 耶和华的话又临到我说： 19 “人子啊！至于你，你要定出两条路，给巴比伦王的刀前来；这两条路都从同一个地方出来；你要在通往城去的路口上做一个路标。 20 你要定出一条路，使刀临到亚扪的拉巴，又要定出另一条路，使刀临到犹大，攻击坚固城耶路撒冷。 21 因为巴比伦王站在分叉路口，在两条路口上占卜、摇签、求问神像，察看动物的肝。 22 他右手中拿着耶路撒冷的签，要在那里架起攻城锤，下令屠杀，扬声吶喊；架起攻城锤，攻打城门；筑起土垒，建造围城的高墙。 23 在那些曾经向巴比伦起誓效忠的犹大人看来，这是虚假的占卜，但巴比伦王要使他们想起自己的罪孽，把他们掳去。 24 因此，主耶和华这样说：‘你们的过犯显露，你们的罪在你们的一切行为上给人看见；以致你们的罪孽被想起。你们既被想起，就要被人用手掳去。 25 你这该死、邪恶的以色列王啊！你的日子到了，最后惩罚的时刻到了。’ 26 主耶和华这样说：‘你当除去头巾，脱下冠冕！现在情形不同了，卑微的要升高，位高的要降卑！ 27 倾覆，倾覆，我要倾覆这国，这国不再存在，直等到那统治的人来到，我就把国赐给他。’
惩罚亚扪人的刀
28 “人子啊！你要说预言：论到亚扪人和他们的侮辱，主耶和华这样说：‘你要说：有一把刀，有一把刀拔出来，是为要杀戮；擦亮，是为要毁灭，为要闪烁发光。 29 人为你所见的异象是虚假的，为你所占的卜是虚谎的，使你倒在该死的恶人的颈项上；他们受惩罚的日子到了，最后惩罚的时刻到了。 30 收刀入鞘吧！我必在你被造之地，根源之处，审判你。 31 我必把我的忿怒倒在你身上，把我的怒火喷在你身上，又把你交在那些惯于毁灭的野蛮人手中。 32 你必当作燃料被火焚烧；你的血要流在你的国中；你必不再被记念，因为这是我耶和华说的。’”
Ezekiel 21
English Standard Version
Ezekiel 21
English Standard Version
The Lord Has Drawn His Sword
21 [a] The word of the Lord came to me: 2 (A)“Son of man, (B)set your face toward Jerusalem and (C)preach against the sanctuaries.[b] Prophesy against the land of Israel 3 and say to the land of Israel, Thus says the Lord: (D)Behold, I am against you and will draw (E)my sword from its sheath and (F)will cut off from you both righteous and wicked. 4 Because I will cut off from you both righteous and wicked, therefore my sword shall be drawn from its sheath against all flesh from south to north. 5 (G)And all flesh shall know that I am the Lord. I have drawn (H)my sword from its sheath; (I)it shall not be sheathed again.
6 “As for you, son of man, (J)groan; with breaking heart and bitter grief, (K)groan before their eyes. 7 (L)And when they say to you, ‘Why do you groan?’ you shall say, ‘Because of the news (M)that it is coming. (N)Every heart will melt, and (O)all hands will be feeble; every spirit will faint, and (P)all knees will be weak as water. (Q)Behold, it is (R)coming, and it will be fulfilled,’” declares the Lord God.
8 And the word of the Lord came to me: 9 (S)“Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus says the Lord, say:
(T)“A sword, a sword is sharpened
and also polished,
10 (U)sharpened for slaughter,
(V)polished to flash like lightning!
(Or (W)shall we rejoice? You have despised the rod, my son, (X)with everything of wood.)[c] 11 So the sword is given to be polished, that it may be grasped in the hand. It is sharpened and polished (Y)to be given into the hand of the slayer. 12 (Z)Cry out and wail, son of man, for it is against my people. It is against all the princes of Israel. They are delivered over to the sword with my people. (AA)Strike therefore upon your thigh. 13 For it will not be a testing—what could it do if you despise (AB)the rod?”[d] declares the Lord God.
14 “As for you, (AC)son of man, prophesy. (AD)Clap your hands and let the sword come down twice, (AE)yes, three times,[e] the sword for those to be slain. It is the sword for the great slaughter, which surrounds them, 15 that their hearts may melt, and many stumble.[f] At all their gates I have given the glittering sword. Ah, it is made like lightning; (AF)it is taken up[g] for slaughter. 16 Cut sharply to the right; set yourself to the left, wherever your face is directed. 17 I also will (AG)clap my hands, (AH)and I will satisfy my fury; (AI)I the Lord have spoken.”
18 The word of the Lord came to me again: 19 “As for you, son of man, mark two ways for (AJ)the sword of the king of Babylon to come. Both of them shall come from the same land. And make (AK)a signpost; make it (AL)at the head of the way to a city. 20 Mark a way (AM)for the sword to come to Rabbah of the Ammonites and to Judah, into Jerusalem the fortified. 21 For the king of Babylon stands (AN)at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination. He shakes the arrows; he consults (AO)the teraphim;[h] he looks at the liver. 22 Into his right hand comes the divination for Jerusalem, (AP)to set battering rams, to open the mouth with murder, to lift up the voice with shouting, to set battering rams against the gates, (AQ)to cast up mounds, to build siege towers. 23 But to them it will seem like a false divination. (AR)They have sworn solemn oaths, but he brings their guilt to remembrance, (AS)that they may be taken.
24 “Therefore thus says the Lord God: Because you have made your guilt to be remembered, in that your transgressions are uncovered, so that in all your deeds your sins appear—because you have come to remembrance, (AT)you shall be taken in hand. 25 And you, O profane[i] (AU)wicked one, prince of Israel, (AV)whose day has come, (AW)the time of your final punishment, 26 thus says the Lord God: Remove the turban and take off the crown. Things shall not remain as they are. (AX)Exalt that which is low, and bring low that which is exalted. 27 A ruin, ruin, ruin I will make it. (AY)This also shall not be, (AZ)until he comes, the one to whom judgment belongs, and I will give it to him.
28 “And you, (BA)son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus says the Lord God (BB)concerning the Ammonites and concerning their reproach; say, (BC)A sword, a sword (BD)is drawn for the slaughter. (BE)It is polished to consume and to flash like lightning— 29 while (BF)they see for you false visions, while they divine lies for you—to place you on the necks of the profane wicked, (BG)whose day has come, the time of their final punishment. 30 (BH)Return it to its sheath. In the place where you were created, in the land of your origin, (BI)I will judge you. 31 And (BJ)I will pour out my indignation upon you; (BK)I will blow upon you with the fire of my wrath, and I will deliver you into the hands of (BL)brutish men, skillful to destroy. 32 You shall be fuel for the fire. Your blood shall be in the midst of the land. (BM)You shall be no more remembered, (BN)for I the Lord have spoken.”
Footnotes
- Ezekiel 21:1 Ch 21:6 in Hebrew
- Ezekiel 21:2 Some Hebrew manuscripts; compare Septuagint; Syriac against their sanctuary
- Ezekiel 21:10 Probable reading; Hebrew The rod of my son despises everything of wood
- Ezekiel 21:13 Or For it is a testing; and what if even the rod despises? It shall not be!
- Ezekiel 21:14 Hebrew its third
- Ezekiel 21:15 Hebrew many stumbling blocks
- Ezekiel 21:15 The meaning of the Hebrew word rendered taken up is uncertain
- Ezekiel 21:21 Or household idols
- Ezekiel 21:25 Or slain; also verse 29
Ezekiel 21
New International Version
Ezekiel 21
New International Version
Babylon as God’s Sword of Judgment
21 [a]The word of the Lord came to me:(A) 2 “Son of man, set your face against(B) Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuary.(C) Prophesy against(D) the land of Israel 3 and say to her: ‘This is what the Lord says: I am against you.(E) I will draw my sword(F) from its sheath and cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked.(G) 4 Because I am going to cut off the righteous and the wicked, my sword(H) will be unsheathed against everyone from south to north.(I) 5 Then all people will know that I the Lord have drawn my sword(J) from its sheath; it will not return(K) again.’(L)
6 “Therefore groan, son of man! Groan before them with broken heart and bitter grief.(M) 7 And when they ask you, ‘Why are you groaning?(N)’ you shall say, ‘Because of the news that is coming. Every heart will melt with fear(O) and every hand go limp;(P) every spirit will become faint(Q) and every leg will be wet with urine.’(R) It is coming! It will surely take place, declares the Sovereign Lord.”
8 The 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—
10 sharpened for the slaughter,(S)
polished to flash like lightning!
“‘Shall we rejoice in the scepter of my royal son? The sword despises every such stick.(T)
11 “‘The sword is appointed to be polished,(U)
to be grasped with the hand;
it is sharpened and polished,
made ready for the hand of the slayer.
12 Cry 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.(V)
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(W) 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.(X)
15 So that hearts may melt with fear(Y)
and the fallen be many,
I have stationed the sword for slaughter[b]
at all their gates.
Look! It is forged to strike like lightning,
it is grasped for slaughter.(Z)
16 Slash to the right, you sword,
then to the left,
wherever your blade is turned.
17 I too will strike my hands(AA) together,
and my wrath(AB) will subside.
I the Lord have spoken.(AC)”
18 The word of the Lord came to me: 19 “Son of man, mark out two roads for the sword(AD) of the king of Babylon to take, both starting from the same country. Make a signpost(AE) where the road branches off to the city. 20 Mark out one road for the sword to come against Rabbah of the Ammonites(AF) 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(AG) with arrows, he will consult his idols,(AH) he will examine the liver.(AI) 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,(AJ) to set battering rams against the gates, to build a ramp(AK) and to erect siege works.(AL) 23 It will seem like a false omen to those who have sworn allegiance to him, but he will remind(AM) them of their guilt(AN) 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,(AO) whose time of punishment has reached its climax,(AP) 26 this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Take off the turban, remove the crown.(AQ) It will not be as it was: The lowly will be exalted and the exalted will be brought low.(AR) 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;(AS) to him I will give it.’(AT)
28 “And you, son of man, prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says about the Ammonites(AU) and their insults:
“‘A sword,(AV) a sword,
drawn for the slaughter,
polished to consume
and to flash like lightning!
29 Despite false visions concerning you
and lying divinations(AW) about you,
it will be laid on the necks
of the wicked who are to be slain,
whose day has come,
whose time of punishment has reached its climax.(AX)
30 “‘Let the sword return to its sheath.(AY)
In the place where you were created,
in the land of your ancestry,(AZ)
I will judge you.
31 I will pour out my wrath on you
and breathe(BA) out my fiery anger(BB) against you;
I will deliver you into the hands of brutal men,
men skilled in destruction.(BC)
32 You will be fuel for the fire,(BD)
your blood will be shed in your land,
you will be remembered(BE) no more;
for I the Lord have spoken.’”
Footnotes
- Ezekiel 21:1 In Hebrew texts 21:1-32 is numbered 21:6-37.
- Ezekiel 21:15 Septuagint; the meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
以西结书 21
Chinese New Version (Simplified)
以西结书 21
Chinese New Version (Simplified)
耶和华的刀
21 耶和华的话临到我说：（本节在《马索拉文本》为21:6） 2 “人子啊！你要面向耶路撒冷，向圣所发言，说预言攻击以色列地， 3 你要对以色列地说：‘耶和华这样说：看哪！我要攻击你；我要拔刀出鞘，把义人和恶人都从你那里剪除。 4 我既然要把义人和恶人都从你那里剪除，所以我的刀必要出鞘，从南到北攻击所有的人； 5 所有的人就知道我耶和华已经拔刀出鞘，刀必不再入鞘了。’ 6 人子啊！至于你，你要叹息，在他们眼前弯着腰，苦苦叹息。 7 他们如果问你：‘你为甚么叹息呢？’你就要回答：‘是因为那将要来到的消息；人人都必心慌意乱，手都发软，精神衰颓，他们的膝都像水一般的柔弱。看哪！它要来到了。这事一定要成就。这是主耶和华的宣告。’” 8 耶和华的话临到我说： 9 “人子啊！你要预言，说：‘主耶和华这样说：
有一把刀，有一把磨利了的刀，
是擦亮了的刀；
10 磨利，是为要大行杀戮，
擦亮，是为要闪烁发光！
我们怎能快乐呢？我的儿子藐视管教的杖和一切劝告（“劝告”原文作“木头”）。 11 这刀已经交给人擦亮，可以握在手中使用；这刀已经磨利擦亮了，可以交在行杀戮的人手中。’ 12 人子啊！你要呼喊、哀号。因为这刀要临到我的子民，以及以色列所有的领袖；他们与我的子民都要交在刀下；所以你要拍腿悲叹， 13 因为考验必要来到，你为甚么要藐视那管教的杖呢？这事必不得成功。这是主耶和华的宣告。
14 “人子啊！至于你，你要拍手说预言，要接二连三地使用这杀人的刀，就是导致极大死伤的刀，把它们围困， 15 好使他们心慌意乱，多人跌倒，我在他们所有的城门那里布下了杀戮（“杀戮”这译法是参考古译本，原文意思不详）的人；啊！这刀做得闪烁发光，磨得尖利，可以杀戮。 16 刀啊，向右边斩吧！向左边刺吧！无论你面向哪一方，就向哪一方杀戮吧！ 17 我也要拍手，并且要使我的烈怒止息；这是我耶和华说的。”
巴比伦王的刀
18 耶和华的话又临到我说： 19 “人子啊！至于你，你要定出两条路，给巴比伦王的刀前来；这两条路都从同一个地方出来；你要在通往城去的路口上做一个路标。 20 你要定出一条路，使刀临到亚扪的拉巴，又要定出另一条路，使刀临到犹大，攻击坚固城耶路撒冷。 21 因为巴比伦王站在分叉路口，在两条路口上占卜、摇签、求问神像，察看动物的肝。 22 他右手中拿着耶路撒冷的签，要在那里架起攻城锤，下令屠杀，扬声吶喊；架起攻城锤，攻打城门；筑起土垒，建造围城的高墙。 23 在那些曾经向巴比伦起誓效忠的犹大人看来，这是虚假的占卜，但巴比伦王要使他们想起自己的罪孽，把他们掳去。 24 因此，主耶和华这样说：‘你们的过犯显露，你们的罪在你们的一切行为上给人看见；以致你们的罪孽被想起。你们既被想起，就要被人用手掳去。 25 你这该死、邪恶的以色列王啊！你的日子到了，最后惩罚的时刻到了。’ 26 主耶和华这样说：‘你当除去头巾，脱下冠冕！现在情形不同了，卑微的要升高，位高的要降卑！ 27 倾覆，倾覆，我要倾覆这国，这国不再存在，直等到那统治的人来到，我就把国赐给他。’
惩罚亚扪人的刀
28 “人子啊！你要说预言：论到亚扪人和他们的侮辱，主耶和华这样说：‘你要说：有一把刀，有一把刀拔出来，是为要杀戮；擦亮，是为要毁灭，为要闪烁发光。 29 人为你所见的异象是虚假的，为你所占的卜是虚谎的，使你倒在该死的恶人的颈项上；他们受惩罚的日子到了，最后惩罚的时刻到了。 30 收刀入鞘吧！我必在你被造之地，根源之处，审判你。 31 我必把我的忿怒倒在你身上，把我的怒火喷在你身上，又把你交在那些惯于毁灭的野蛮人手中。 32 你必当作燃料被火焚烧；你的血要流在你的国中；你必不再被记念，因为这是我耶和华说的。’”
Ezekiel 21
English Standard Version
Ezekiel 21
English Standard Version
The Lord Has Drawn His Sword
21 [a] The word of the Lord came to me: 2 (A)“Son of man, (B)set your face toward Jerusalem and (C)preach against the sanctuaries.[b] Prophesy against the land of Israel 3 and say to the land of Israel, Thus says the Lord: (D)Behold, I am against you and will draw (E)my sword from its sheath and (F)will cut off from you both righteous and wicked. 4 Because I will cut off from you both righteous and wicked, therefore my sword shall be drawn from its sheath against all flesh from south to north. 5 (G)And all flesh shall know that I am the Lord. I have drawn (H)my sword from its sheath; (I)it shall not be sheathed again.
6 “As for you, son of man, (J)groan; with breaking heart and bitter grief, (K)groan before their eyes. 7 (L)And when they say to you, ‘Why do you groan?’ you shall say, ‘Because of the news (M)that it is coming. (N)Every heart will melt, and (O)all hands will be feeble; every spirit will faint, and (P)all knees will be weak as water. (Q)Behold, it is (R)coming, and it will be fulfilled,’” declares the Lord God.
8 And the word of the Lord came to me: 9 (S)“Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus says the Lord, say:
(T)“A sword, a sword is sharpened
and also polished,
10 (U)sharpened for slaughter,
(V)polished to flash like lightning!
(Or (W)shall we rejoice? You have despised the rod, my son, (X)with everything of wood.)[c] 11 So the sword is given to be polished, that it may be grasped in the hand. It is sharpened and polished (Y)to be given into the hand of the slayer. 12 (Z)Cry out and wail, son of man, for it is against my people. It is against all the princes of Israel. They are delivered over to the sword with my people. (AA)Strike therefore upon your thigh. 13 For it will not be a testing—what could it do if you despise (AB)the rod?”[d] declares the Lord God.
14 “As for you, (AC)son of man, prophesy. (AD)Clap your hands and let the sword come down twice, (AE)yes, three times,[e] the sword for those to be slain. It is the sword for the great slaughter, which surrounds them, 15 that their hearts may melt, and many stumble.[f] At all their gates I have given the glittering sword. Ah, it is made like lightning; (AF)it is taken up[g] for slaughter. 16 Cut sharply to the right; set yourself to the left, wherever your face is directed. 17 I also will (AG)clap my hands, (AH)and I will satisfy my fury; (AI)I the Lord have spoken.”
18 The word of the Lord came to me again: 19 “As for you, son of man, mark two ways for (AJ)the sword of the king of Babylon to come. Both of them shall come from the same land. And make (AK)a signpost; make it (AL)at the head of the way to a city. 20 Mark a way (AM)for the sword to come to Rabbah of the Ammonites and to Judah, into Jerusalem the fortified. 21 For the king of Babylon stands (AN)at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination. He shakes the arrows; he consults (AO)the teraphim;[h] he looks at the liver. 22 Into his right hand comes the divination for Jerusalem, (AP)to set battering rams, to open the mouth with murder, to lift up the voice with shouting, to set battering rams against the gates, (AQ)to cast up mounds, to build siege towers. 23 But to them it will seem like a false divination. (AR)They have sworn solemn oaths, but he brings their guilt to remembrance, (AS)that they may be taken.
24 “Therefore thus says the Lord God: Because you have made your guilt to be remembered, in that your transgressions are uncovered, so that in all your deeds your sins appear—because you have come to remembrance, (AT)you shall be taken in hand. 25 And you, O profane[i] (AU)wicked one, prince of Israel, (AV)whose day has come, (AW)the time of your final punishment, 26 thus says the Lord God: Remove the turban and take off the crown. Things shall not remain as they are. (AX)Exalt that which is low, and bring low that which is exalted. 27 A ruin, ruin, ruin I will make it. (AY)This also shall not be, (AZ)until he comes, the one to whom judgment belongs, and I will give it to him.
28 “And you, (BA)son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus says the Lord God (BB)concerning the Ammonites and concerning their reproach; say, (BC)A sword, a sword (BD)is drawn for the slaughter. (BE)It is polished to consume and to flash like lightning— 29 while (BF)they see for you false visions, while they divine lies for you—to place you on the necks of the profane wicked, (BG)whose day has come, the time of their final punishment. 30 (BH)Return it to its sheath. In the place where you were created, in the land of your origin, (BI)I will judge you. 31 And (BJ)I will pour out my indignation upon you; (BK)I will blow upon you with the fire of my wrath, and I will deliver you into the hands of (BL)brutish men, skillful to destroy. 32 You shall be fuel for the fire. Your blood shall be in the midst of the land. (BM)You shall be no more remembered, (BN)for I the Lord have spoken.”
Footnotes
- Ezekiel 21:1 Ch 21:6 in Hebrew
- Ezekiel 21:2 Some Hebrew manuscripts; compare Septuagint; Syriac against their sanctuary
- Ezekiel 21:10 Probable reading; Hebrew The rod of my son despises everything of wood
- Ezekiel 21:13 Or For it is a testing; and what if even the rod despises? It shall not be!
- Ezekiel 21:14 Hebrew its third
- Ezekiel 21:15 Hebrew many stumbling blocks
- Ezekiel 21:15 The meaning of the Hebrew word rendered taken up is uncertain
- Ezekiel 21:21 Or household idols
- Ezekiel 21:25 Or slain; also verse 29
Ezekiel 21
New International Version
Ezekiel 21
New International Version
Babylon as God’s Sword of Judgment
21 [a]The word of the Lord came to me:(A) 2 “Son of man, set your face against(B) Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuary.(C) Prophesy against(D) the land of Israel 3 and say to her: ‘This is what the Lord says: I am against you.(E) I will draw my sword(F) from its sheath and cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked.(G) 4 Because I am going to cut off the righteous and the wicked, my sword(H) will be unsheathed against everyone from south to north.(I) 5 Then all people will know that I the Lord have drawn my sword(J) from its sheath; it will not return(K) again.’(L)
6 “Therefore groan, son of man! Groan before them with broken heart and bitter grief.(M) 7 And when they ask you, ‘Why are you groaning?(N)’ you shall say, ‘Because of the news that is coming. Every heart will melt with fear(O) and every hand go limp;(P) every spirit will become faint(Q) and every leg will be wet with urine.’(R) It is coming! It will surely take place, declares the Sovereign Lord.”
8 The 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—
10 sharpened for the slaughter,(S)
polished to flash like lightning!
“‘Shall we rejoice in the scepter of my royal son? The sword despises every such stick.(T)
11 “‘The sword is appointed to be polished,(U)
to be grasped with the hand;
it is sharpened and polished,
made ready for the hand of the slayer.
12 Cry 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.(V)
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(W) 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.(X)
15 So that hearts may melt with fear(Y)
and the fallen be many,
I have stationed the sword for slaughter[b]
at all their gates.
Look! It is forged to strike like lightning,
it is grasped for slaughter.(Z)
16 Slash to the right, you sword,
then to the left,
wherever your blade is turned.
17 I too will strike my hands(AA) together,
and my wrath(AB) will subside.
I the Lord have spoken.(AC)”
18 The word of the Lord came to me: 19 “Son of man, mark out two roads for the sword(AD) of the king of Babylon to take, both starting from the same country. Make a signpost(AE) where the road branches off to the city. 20 Mark out one road for the sword to come against Rabbah of the Ammonites(AF) 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(AG) with arrows, he will consult his idols,(AH) he will examine the liver.(AI) 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,(AJ) to set battering rams against the gates, to build a ramp(AK) and to erect siege works.(AL) 23 It will seem like a false omen to those who have sworn allegiance to him, but he will remind(AM) them of their guilt(AN) 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,(AO) whose time of punishment has reached its climax,(AP) 26 this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Take off the turban, remove the crown.(AQ) It will not be as it was: The lowly will be exalted and the exalted will be brought low.(AR) 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;(AS) to him I will give it.’(AT)
28 “And you, son of man, prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says about the Ammonites(AU) and their insults:
“‘A sword,(AV) a sword,
drawn for the slaughter,
polished to consume
and to flash like lightning!
29 Despite false visions concerning you
and lying divinations(AW) about you,
it will be laid on the necks
of the wicked who are to be slain,
whose day has come,
whose time of punishment has reached its climax.(AX)
30 “‘Let the sword return to its sheath.(AY)
In the place where you were created,
in the land of your ancestry,(AZ)
I will judge you.
31 I will pour out my wrath on you
and breathe(BA) out my fiery anger(BB) against you;
I will deliver you into the hands of brutal men,
men skilled in destruction.(BC)
32 You will be fuel for the fire,(BD)
your blood will be shed in your land,
you will be remembered(BE) no more;
for I the Lord have spoken.’”
Footnotes
- Ezekiel 21:1 In Hebrew texts 21:1-32 is numbered 21:6-37.
- Ezekiel 21:15 Septuagint; the meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
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