1. AND THE word of the Lord came to me, saying,
2. Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem and direct your [prophetic] word against the holy places; prophesy against the land of Israel
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 the righteous and the wicked.
4. Because I will cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall My sword go out of its sheath against all flesh from the south to the north,
5. And all living shall know, understand, and realize that I the Lord have drawn My sword out of its sheath; it shall not be sheathed any more.