Open English Translation EZE Chapter 21

21 Then Yahweh gave me another message: 2 “Humanity’s child, look towards Yerushalem, and speak against the sacred places and prophesy against Yisrael. 3 Tell Yisrael that Yahweh says this: Listen, I’m against you. I’ll draw my sword from its sheath to kill both the righteous and the wicked among you. 4 Yes, in order for me to eliminate both the righteous and the wicked from you, my sword will go out from its sheath against everyone from the south to the north, 5 then everyone will know that I, Yahweh, have drawn my sword from its sheath. It will no longer hold back.’

6 As for you, humanity’s child, groan as if your pelvis has cracked. Groan bitterly in front of them. 7 That’ll get the people asking you, ‘What are you groaning about?’ Then you’ll tell them, ‘Because of the news that’s coming, because every stomach will go tense and every hand will tremble. Breathing will become difficult, and every knee will turn to jelly. Listen, it’s coming, and that’s what it’ll be like. That’s the master Yahweh’s declaration.’ ”

8 Then Yahweh gave me another message: 9 “Humanity’s child, prophesy and tell them that the master says this:

“A sword! A sword!

It will be sharpened and polished.

10 It will be sharpened in order to engage in great slaughter!

≈ It will be polished in order to be like lightning!

Should we rejoice in my son’s scepter?

The coming sword hates every such rod.

11 So the sword will be given to be polished,

and then to be grasped by the hand.

The sword is sharpened and polished

and will be handed to the one who kills!” ’ ”

12 Call for help and wail, humanity’s child,

because that sword has come against my people.

It’s against all of Yisrael’s leaders—

they’re thrown against the sword along with my people.

Therefore, hammer your fists against the wall,

13 because testing will come,

but what if the scepter doesn’t last?

That’s the master Yahweh’s declaration.

14 Now, humanity’s child, prophesy and clap your two hands together loudly,

because the sword will attack even a third time.

A sword for the ones to be slaughtered.

It’s a sword for the many to be slaughtered,

piercing them wherever they run.

15 In order to melt their hearts and to multiply their fallen,

I’ve placed the sword for slaughter at all their gates.

Ah, it flashes like lightning.

It’s held tightly for slaughter.

16 You, sword, strike to the right.

Strike to the left.

Go in whichever direction you’re facing,

17 because I will also clap my two hands together,

and then I’ll cease my fury.

I, Yahweh, declare it.”

18 Then Yahweh gave me another message: 19 “Now, humanity’s child, assign two roads for Babylon’s king’s sword to come on. The two roads will start in the same land, and a signpost will mark one of them as leading to a city. 20 Mark one road for the Babylonian army to come to Rabbah, the Ammonite city. Mark the other to lead the army to Yehudah and the fortified city of Yerushalem, 21 because the Babylonian king will stop at the crossroads, at the junction, in order to practice divination. He’ll shake some arrows and ask direction from some idols, and he’ll examine a liver. 22 With his right hand he’ll take the sign for Yerushalem: to set battering rams against it, to open his mouth to order the slaughter, to sound a war cry, to set battering rams against the gates, to build a ramp, and to erect siege towers. 23 From the perspective of those in Yerushalem, it would seem to be a pointless sign, since they’d made a treaty with the Babylonians, but the king will accuse them of violating their treaty so he can besiege them.

24 Therefore the master Yahweh says this: You’ve caused your guilt to be noticed by revealing your disobedience, so that your sins will be obvious through all your actions. Because you’ve done that, you’ll be taken by force. 25 As for you, Yisrael’s profane and wicked ruler, your time of going against me has now ended and your day of punishment has come. 26 The master Yahweh instructs you: Remove the turban and take off the crown. Things will no longer be the same. I’ll give power to those who had none, and disgrace those who had power. 27 A ruin. A ruin. Yes, I’ll make it a ruin. It won’t be restored until the person comes who’s assigned to execute judgement.

28 So you, humanity’s child, prophesy and say, ‘The master Yahweh says this to the Ammonites concerning their coming disgrace: A sword, a sword is drawn. It’s sharpened for the slaughter in order to devour, so it’ll be like lightning.[ref] 29 While prophets see empty visions for you and perform rituals to come up with lies for you, this sword will lie on the necks of the wicked who are about to be killed, whose day of punishment has come and whose time of disobedience is about to end.s1 Babylon’s end ???

30 Return the sword to its sheath. I’ll judge you in the place where you were created. In your native land 31 I’ll pour my indignation out on you! I’ll fan the fire of my rage against you and hand you over to cruel men—craftsmen of destruction. 32 You’ll become fuel for the fire. Your blood will be spilled right there in your own land. You won’t be remembered, because I, Yahweh have declared it.’ ”