Ezekiel 21

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition	NEW JERUSALEM
1 The word of the LORD came to me:	1 The word of Yahweh was addressed to me as follows,
2 "Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuaries; prophesy against the land of Israel	2 'Son of man, turn to the right; utter your word towards the south, prophesy against the forest land ofthe Negeb.
3 and say to the land of Israel, Thus says the LORD: Behold, I am against you, and will draw forth my sword out of its sheath, and will cut off from you both righteous and wicked.	3 Say to the forest of Negeb, "Hear the word of Yahweh! The Lord Yahweh says this: Listen; I am aboutto kindle a fire in you which wil burn up every green tree in you as wel as every dry one; it wil be anunquenchable blaze and every face wil be scorched by it from the Negeb to the north.
4 Because I will cut off from you both righteous and wicked, therefore my sword shall go out of its sheath against all flesh from south to north;	4 Al humanity wil see that it was I, Yahweh, who kindled it, and it wil not be extinguished." '
5 and all flesh shall know that I the LORD have drawn my sword out of its sheath; it shall not be sheathed again.	5 I said, 'Lord Yahweh, they say of me, "He does nothing but speak in riddles!"'
6 Sigh therefore, son of man; sigh with breaking heart and bitter grief before their eyes.	6 Then the word of Yahweh was addressed to me as fol ows,
7 And when they say to you, 'Why do you sigh?' you shall say, 'Because of the tidings. When it comes, every heart will melt and all hands will be feeble, every spirit will faint and all knees will be weak as water. Behold, it comes and it will be fulfilled," says the Lord GOD.	7 'Son of man, turn towards Jerusalem, utter your word towards the sanctuary and prophesy against theland of Israel.
8 And the word of the LORD came to me:	8 Say to the land of Israel, "Yahweh says this: Now I am against you; I am about to unsheathe my swordand rid you of the upright and the wicked alike.
9 "Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus says the Lord, Say: A sword, a sword is sharpened and also polished,	9 Since I am going to rid you of upright and wicked alike, I shal unsheathe my sword against everyonealive, from the Negeb to the north,
10 sharpened for slaughter, polished to flash like lightning! Or do we make mirth? You have despised the rod, my son, with everything of wood.	10 so that everyone alive wil know that I, Yahweh, am the one who has unsheathed my sword; it wil notgo back again."
11 So the sword is given to be polished, that it may be handled; it is sharpened and polished to be given into the hand of the slayer.	11 'Son of man, groan as though your heart were breaking. Utter your bitter groans where they can seeyou.
12 Cry 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. Smite therefore upon your thigh.	12 And if they say, "Why these groans?" reply, "Because of the news which is about to come, all hearts wil sink, al hands grow weak, all spirits grow faint and al knees turn to water. It is coming now, it is here!-declares Lord Yahweh." '
13 For it will not be a testing--what could it do if you despise the rod?" says the Lord GOD.	13 The word of Yahweh was addressed to me as fol ows,
14 "Prophesy therefore, son of man; clap your hands and let the sword come down twice, yea thrice, the sword for those to be slain; it is the sword for the great slaughter, which encompasses them,	14 'Son of man, prophesy. Say, "The Lord says this. Say: The sword, the sword has been sharpenedand polished,
15 that their hearts may melt, and many fall at all their gates. I have given the glittering sword; ah! it is made like lightning, it is polished for slaughter.	15 sharpened for slaughter, polished to flash like lightning . . .
16 Cut sharply to right and left where your edge is directed.	16 He has had it polished to be wielded, this sword sharpened and polished to put in the slaughterer'shand!
17 I also will clap my hands, and I will satisfy my fury; I the LORD have spoken."	17 Shout and wail, son of man, for it wil come on my people, on all the chief men of Israel doomed likemy people to the sword! So beat your breast,
18 The word of the LORD came to me again:	18 for this wil be an ordeal . . . declares the Lord Yahweh.
19 "Son of man, mark two ways for the sword of the king of Babylon to come; both of them shall come forth from the same land. And make a signpost, make it at the head of the way to a city;	19 So prophesy, son of man, and clap your hands! Let the sword pass three times, that sword forvictims, that sword for a great victim, threatening them from every side!
20 mark a way for the sword to come to Rabbah of the Ammonites and to Judah and to Jerusalem the fortified.	20 To make hearts sink and make sure many fall, I have posted the slaughtering sword at every gate toflash like lightning, polished for slaughter.
21 For the king of Babylon stands at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination; he shakes the arrows, he consults the teraphim, he looks at the liver.	21 Be sharp, on the right, be ready on the left, whichever way your blade is needed!
22 Into his right hand comes the lot for Jerusalem, to open the mouth with a cry, to lift up the voice with shouting, to set battering rams against the gates, to cast up mounds, to build siege towers.	22 I too shal clap my hands and sate my fury! I, Yahweh, have spoken." '
23 But to them it will seem like a false divination; they have sworn solemn oaths; but he brings their guilt to remembrance, that they may be captured.	23 The word of Yahweh was addressed to me as fol ows,
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 doings your sins appear--because you have come to remembrance, you shall be taken in them.	24 'Son of man, mark out two roads for the sword of the king of Babylon to come along, making both ofthem begin from the same country. Then put up a signpost, put it where the road leaves for the city,
25 And you, O unhallowed wicked one, prince of Israel, whose day has come, the time of your final punishment,	25 trace the route which the sword should take for Rabbah-of-the-Ammonites, and for Judah, to thefortress of Jerusalem.
26 thus says the Lord GOD: Remove the turban, and take off the crown; things shall not remain as they are; exalt that which is low, and abase that which is high.	26 For the king of Babylon has halted at the fork where these two roads diverge, to take the omens. Hehas shaken the arrows, questioned the household gods, inspected the liver.
27 A ruin, ruin, ruin I will make it; there shall not be even a trace of it until he comes whose right it is; and to him I will give it.	27 The lot marked 'Jerusalem' is in his right hand: there to set up battering-rams, give the word forslaughter, raise the war cry, level battering-rams against the gates, cast up earthworks, build entrenchments.
28 "And you, son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus says the Lord GOD concerning the Ammonites, and concerning their reproach; say, A sword, a sword is drawn for the slaughter, it is polished to glitter and to flash like lightning--	28 The inhabitants wil believe that these omens are idle, for they have received sworn guarantees, buthe wil bring their guilt to mind and capture them.
29 while they see for you false visions, while they divine lies for you--to be laid on the necks of the unhallowed wicked, whose day has come, the time of their final punishment.	29 And so the Lord Yahweh says this, "Since you have brought your guilt to mind by parading yourmisdeeds and flaunting your sins in everything you do: because you have drawn attention to yourselves, you willbe captured.
30 Return it to its sheath. In the place where you were created, in the land of your origin, I will judge you.	30 As for you, impious and wicked prince of Israel, whose doom is approaching to put an end to yourcrimes,
31 And I will pour out my indignation upon you; I will blow upon you with the fire of my wrath; and I will deliver you into the hands of brutal men, skilful to destroy.	31 the Lord Yahweh says this: They will take away your diadem and remove your crown. Everything wilbe changed; the low wil be raised and the high brought low!
32 You shall be fuel for the fire; your blood shall be in the midst of the land; you shall be no more remembered; for I the LORD have spoken."	32 Ruin, ruin, I shal bring such ruin as never was before, until the rightful ruler comes, on whom I shalbestow it."
	33 'Son of man, prophesy and say, "The Lord Yahweh says this: In reply to the Ammonites and theirjeers, say: The sword, the sword is drawn for slaughter, polished to devour, to flash like lightning-
	34 while you have empty visions and consult lying omens-to cut the throats of the wicked, whose doomis approaching to put an end to their crimes.
	35 Put it back in the scabbard. The place where you were created, the land of your origin, wil be where Ijudge you.
	36 I shal vent my fury on you, breathe the fire of my rage against you and hand you over to barbarousmen whose trade is destruction.
	37 You wil be fuel for the fire, your blood wil flow through the country, you wil leave no memory behindyou; for I, Yahweh, have spoken!" '