4. Seeing then that I will cut off from you the righteous and the wicked, therefore my sword will go out of its sheath against all flesh from the south to the north.
5. All flesh will know that I, Yahweh, have drawn my sword out of its sheath. It will not return any more.”’
6. “Sigh therefore, you son of man. You shall sigh before their eyes with a broken heart and with bitterness.
7. It shall be, when they ask you, ‘Why do you sigh?’ that you shall say, ‘Because of the news, for it comes! Every heart will melt, all hands will be feeble, every spirit will faint, and all knees will be weak as water. Behold, it comes, and it shall be done, says the Lord Yahweh.’”
8. Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,
9. “Son of man, prophesy, and say, ‘Yahweh says: “A sword! A sword! It is sharpened, and also polished.
10. It is sharpened that it may make a slaughter. It is polished that it may be as lightning. Shall we then make mirth? The rod of my son condemns every tree.
11. It is given to be polished, that it may be handled. The sword is sharpened. Yes, it is polished, to give it into the hand of the killer.”’
12. Cry and wail, son of man; for it is on my people. It is on all the princes of Israel. They are delivered over to the sword with my people. Therefore beat your thigh.