Ezekiel 21:1-17

New International Reader's Version

God Uses the Babylonians to Judge Israel

21 A message from the Lord came to me. The Lord said, ²“Son of man, turn your attention to Jerusalem. Preach against the temple. Prophesy against the land of Israel. ³Tell them, ‘The Lord says, “I am against you. I will pull out my sword. I will remove from you godly people and sinful people alike. ⁴Because I am going to remove them, my sword will be ready to use. I will strike down everyone from south to north. ⁵Then all people will know that I have pulled out my sword. I will not put it back. I am the Lord.” ’

⁶“Groan, son of man! Groan in front of your people. Groan with a broken heart and bitter sorrow. ⁷They will ask you, ‘Why are you groaning?’ Then you will say, ‘Because of the news that is coming. The hearts of all the people will melt away in fear. Their hands will not be able to help them. Their spirits will grow weak. And they will be so afraid they’ll wet themselves.’ The news is coming! You can be sure those things will happen,” announces the Lord and King.

⁸A message from the Lord came to me. The Lord said, ⁹“Son of man, prophesy. Say, ‘The Lord says,

“ ‘ “A sword! A sword!
A sharp and shiny sword is coming from Babylon!
¹⁰It is sharpened to kill people.
It flashes like lightning.” ’ ”

The people say, “Should we take delight in the scepter of the Lord’s royal son? The sword looks down on every scepter like this.” ¹¹The Lord says,

“I have told Nebuchadnezzar to shine his sword.
    It is in his hand.
It has been sharpened and shined.
    It is ready for the killer’s hand.
¹²Son of man, cry out and weep.
    The sword is against my people.
    It is against all the princes of Israel.
It will kill them
    along with the rest of my people.
    So beat your chest in sorrow.

¹³“You can be sure that testing will come. Why does the sword look down on the scepter? Because even the scepter will not continue to rule,” announces the Lord and King.

¹⁴“Son of man, prophesy.
    Clap your hands.
Let the sword strike twice.
    Let it strike even three times.
It is a sword to kill people.
    It is a sword to kill many people.
    It is closing in on them from every side.
¹⁵People’s hearts will melt away in fear.
    Many will be wounded or killed.
I have prepared the sword to kill people
    at all their city gates.
Look! It strikes like lightning.
    It is in the killer’s hand.
¹⁶Sword, cut to the right.
    Then cut to the left.
    Strike down people everywhere your blade is turned.
¹⁷I too will clap my hands.
    I won’t be so angry anymore.
    I have spoken. I am the Lord.”