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:
15. Sharpened to make a slaughter,burnished to flash lightning!Why should I stop now?You have rejected the rod and every judgment!
16. I have given it over to the burnisherthat he might hold it in his hand,A sword sharpened and burnishedto be put in the hands of an executioner.
17. Cry out and howl, son of man,for it is destined for my people,For all the princes of Israel,victims of the sword with my people.Therefore, slap your thigh,