5. But I said, “Ah! Lord God, they are saying about me, ‘Is not this the one who is forever spinning parables?’”
6. Then the word of the Lord came to me:
7. Son of man, turn your face toward Jerusalem: preach against its sanctuary, prophesy against the land of Israel.
8. Say to the land of Israel: Thus says the Lord: See! I am coming against you; I will draw my sword from its scabbard and cut off from you the righteous and the wicked.
9. Thus my sword shall come out from its scabbard against all flesh from south to north
10. and all flesh shall know that I, the Lord, have drawn my sword from its scabbard. It cannot return again.
11. As for you, son of man, groan! with shattered loins and bitter grief, groan in their sight.
12. When they ask you, “Why are you groaning?” you shall say: Because of what I heard! When it comes every heart shall melt, every hand fall helpless; every spirit will grow faint, and every knee run with water. See, it is coming, it is here!—oracle of the Lord God.
13. The word of the Lord came to me:
14. Son of man, prophesy! say: Thus says the Lord:A sword, a sword has been sharpened,a sword, a sword has been burnished: