Ezekiel 21 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Yahweh's came to me:
of set your face toward Jerusalem. Let your words rain down on her and against the land of Israel."
Say to the land of Israel: This is what Yahweh declares — I am against you. I will draw my from its sheath and cut off from you both the and the wicked.
Because I will cut off from you both the just and the wicked, my sword will leave its sheath against everyone, from the to the north.
Then every will know that I, Yahweh, have drawn my sword from its sheath. It will not return again.
And you, son of man — groan. in front of them with your with bitter anguish.
When they ask you, 'Why are you groaning?' — say: Because of the news that is coming. Every will every hand will go limp, every spirit will grow faint, every will to Look — it is coming. It will happen. This is what Yahweh, the Lord, declares.
Yahweh's word came to me again:
"Son of man, prophesy and say: This is what Yahweh declares — A sword! A sword! and
Sharpened to slaughter, polished to — should we celebrate? My son, the sword despises every
The sword is given to be polished, to be gripped in the hand. It is sharpened, it is polished — to be placed in the killer's hand.
Cry out! Scream! Son of man — because this sword falls on my people, it falls on every leader of Israel. They are thrown to the sword alongside my people. So in grief.
"For this is a test — and what if the sword despises even the It will be no more," declares Yahweh, the Lord.
"So you, son of man — prophesy! together! Let the sword strike twice, three times — the sword of the slain, the great sword of slaughter that surrounds them."
I have set the flashing sword against every so hearts will melt and the fallen will multiply. Oh! It is made to flash like lightning, it is gripped for slaughter.
Slash to the right! Cut to the left! Wherever your is aimed, go there!
Then I too will clap my hands together, and I will satisfy my I, Yahweh, have spoken.
Yahweh's word came to me again:
"Son of man, mark out two roads for the sword of the of to travel. Both should start from the same land. And carve a — set it where the road splits toward each city."
Mark out a road for the sword to come against of the Ammonites, and another against Judah — against Jerusalem.
For the king of Babylon stands at the fork in the road, at the head of two paths, to read the signs: he the he consults the he the
Into his right hand comes the lot marked 'Jerusalem' — to set up to give the order for slaughter, to raise the war cry, to aim at the gates, to build a to construct a wall of assault.
To the people of Jerusalem, it will seem like a false omen — they have sworn solemn oaths to Babylon. But he will remind them of their and they will be captured.
"Therefore, this is what Yahweh, the Lord, declares: Because you have brought your guilt to the surface, because your are exposed, because your are visible in everything you do — because you have been remembered, you will be seized by force."
And you — profane, wicked of Israel, whose day has come, whose time of final punishment is here —
This is what Yahweh, the Lord, declares: Take off the Remove the Nothing will stay as it was. Lift up what is low. Bring down what is high.
I will make it an absolute And it will not be restored until the who has the to it — and I will give it to him.
"And you, son of man — prophesy and say: This is what Yahweh, the Lord, declares about the and their — A sword! A sword! Drawn for slaughter, polished to consume, to flash like lightning — "
While they feed you and lying divinations, the sword will be laid on the necks of the profane and wicked, whose day has come — the time of their final punishment.
Return the sword to its sheath! In the where you were in the land of your origin — that is where I will judge you.
I will pour out my on you. I will blast you with the fire of my rage. I will hand you over to brutal men, of
You will be for the Your blood will soak into the ground. You will be again. For I, Yahweh, have spoken.