18 The word of the Lord came to me again: 19 “As for you, son of man, mark two ways for (A)the sword of the king of Babylon to come. Both of them shall come from the same land. And make (B)a signpost; make it (C)at the head of the way to a city. 20 Mark a way (D)for the sword to come to Rabbah of the Ammonites and to Judah, into Jerusalem the fortified. 21 For the king of Babylon stands (E)at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination. He shakes the arrows; he consults (F)the teraphim;[a] he looks at the liver. 22 Into his right hand comes the divination for Jerusalem, (G)to set battering rams, to open the mouth with murder, to lift up the voice with shouting, to set battering rams against the gates, (H)to cast up mounds, to build siege towers. 23 But to them it will seem like a false divination. (I)They have sworn solemn oaths, but he brings their guilt to remembrance, (J)that they may be taken.

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 21:21 Or household idols

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.

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