12. Cry out 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. Strike therefore upon your thigh.
13. For it will not be a testing—what could it do if you despise the rod?” declares the Lord God.
14. “As for you, son of man, prophesy. Clap your hands and let the sword come down twice, yes, three times, the sword for those to be slain. It is the sword for the great slaughter, which surrounds them,
15. that their hearts may melt, and many stumble. At all their gates I have given the glittering sword. Ah, it is made like lightning; it is taken up for slaughter.
16. Cut sharply to the right; set yourself to the left, wherever your face is directed.
17. I also will clap my hands, and I will satisfy my fury; I the Lord have spoken.”
18. The word of the Lord came to me again:
19. “As for you, son of man, mark two ways for the sword of the king of Babylon to come. Both of them shall come from the same land. And make a signpost; make it at the head of the way to a city.
20. Mark a way for the sword to come to Rabbah of the Ammonites and to Judah, into Jerusalem the fortified.
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.