Deuteronomy 32:22-25

New International Version

²²For a fire will be kindled by my wrath,^(A)
one that burns down to the realm of the dead below.^(B)
It will devour^(C) the earth and its harvests^(D)
and set afire the foundations of the mountains.^(E)

²³“I will heap calamities^(F) on them
    and spend my arrows^(G) against them.
²⁴I will send wasting famine^(H) against them,
    consuming pestilence^(I) and deadly plague;^(J)
I will send against them the fangs of wild beasts,^(K)
    the venom of vipers^(L) that glide in the dust.^(M)
²⁵In the street the sword will make them childless;
    in their homes terror^(N) will reign.^(O)
The young men and young women will perish,
    the infants and those with gray hair.^(P)

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Deuteronomy 32:40-43

New International Version

⁴⁰I lift my hand^(A) to heaven and solemnly swear:
    As surely as I live forever,^(B)
⁴¹when I sharpen my flashing sword^(C)
    and my hand grasps it in judgment,
I will take vengeance^(D) on my adversaries
    and repay those who hate me.^(E)
⁴²I will make my arrows drunk with blood,^(F)
    while my sword devours flesh:^(G)
the blood of the slain and the captives,
    the heads of the enemy leaders.”

⁴³Rejoice,^(H) you nations, with his people,^[a]^[b]
for he will avenge the blood of his servants;^(I)
he will take vengeance on his enemies^(J)
and make atonement for his land and people.^(K)

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Footnotes

Deuteronomy 32:43 Or Make his people rejoice, you nations
Deuteronomy 32:43 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls (see also Septuagint) people, / and let all the angels worship him, /

Ezekiel 21:1-11

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 ³and 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) ⁴Because I am going to cut off the righteous and the wicked, my sword^(H) will be unsheathed against everyone from south to north.^(I) ⁵Then 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) ⁷And 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.”

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,^(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.

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Footnotes

Ezekiel 21:1 In Hebrew texts 21:1-32 is numbered 21:6-37.

Ezekiel 21:30-32

New International Version

³⁰“‘Let the sword return to its sheath.^(A)
    In the place where you were created,
in the land of your ancestry,^(B)
    I will judge you.
³¹I will pour out my wrath on you
    and breathe^(C) out my fiery anger^(D) against you;
I will deliver you into the hands of brutal men,
    men skilled in destruction.^(E)
³²You will be fuel for the fire,^(F)
    your blood will be shed in your land,
you will be remembered^(G) no more;
    for I the Lord have spoken.’”