4. Because I am going to cut them off, my sword will be ready to use. I will strike everyone down from south to north.
5. Then 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 with a broken heart and bitter sorrow.
7. They will ask you, 'Why are you groaning?' "Then you will say, 'Because of the news that is coming. The hearts of all of the people will melt away in fear. Their hands will not be able to help them. Their spirits will grow weak. And their knees will become as weak as water.' "The news is coming! You can be sure those things will happen," announces the Lord and King.
8. A message came to me from the Lord. He said,
9. "Son of man, prophesy. Say, 'The Lord says, " ' "A sword! A sword! A sharp and shiny sword is coming from Babylonia!
10. It is sharpened to kill people. It flashes like lightning." ' " The people say, "Should we take delight in the rod of the ruler of the Lord's son Judah? The sword looks down on every stick like that."
11. The 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.
12. Son of man, cry out and sob. The sword is against my people. It is against all of 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 rod? Because the rod 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.
15. People's hearts will melt away in fear. Many will be wounded or killed. I have prepared the sword to kill people at all of their city gates. It flashes like lightning. It is in the killer's hand.
16. Sword, cut to the right. Then cut to the left. Strike people down everywhere your blade is turned.
17. I too will clap my hands. My burning anger will calm down. I have spoken. I am the Lord."
18. A message came to me from the Lord. He said,
19. "Son of man, mark out on a map two roads for the sword to take. The sword belongs to the king of Babylonia. Both roads start from the same country. Put up a sign where the road turns off to the city of Rabbah.
20. Mark out one road for the sword to take against Rabbah in Ammon. Mark out another against Judah and the walls of Jerusalem.
21. "The king of Babylonia will stop at the place where the two roads meet. He will ask his gods to tell him which way to go. He will cast lots by pulling arrows out of a bag. And he will look carefully at the liver of a sheep.
22. "His right hand will pull out the arrow for Jerusalem. There he will get huge logs ready to knock down its gates. He will give the command to kill its people. He will sound the battle cry. He will build a ramp up to the city wall. He will bring in his war machines.
23. "The decision to attack Jerusalem will seem like the wrong advice to those who made a treaty with Nebuchadnezzar. But he will remind them that they are guilty. And he will take them away as prisoners."