1 So|strong="H1961" the|strong="H0559" word|strong="H1697" of|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068" came|strong="H1961" to|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413" again|strong="H1961". He|strong="H3068" said|strong="H0559",
2 “Son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" man|strong="H0120", look toward|strong="H0413" Jerusalem and|strong="H1121" speak|strong="H5197" against|strong="H0413" their|strong="H7760" holy places. Speak|strong="H5197" against|strong="H0413" the|strong="H6440" land|strong="H7704" of|strong="H1121" Israel for|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413".
3 Say|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0559" the|strong="H3605" land|strong="H6440" of|strong="H3068" Israel, ‘This|strong="H3541" is|strong="H3068" what|strong="H1697" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068" said|strong="H0559": I|strong="H2005" am|strong="H3068" against|strong="H6440" you|strong="H3605"! I|strong="H2005" will|strong="H3068" pull my|strong="H3605" sword from|strong="H6440" its|strong="H3605" sheath. I|strong="H2005" will|strong="H3068" remove|strong="H6440" all|strong="H3605" people|strong="H3808" from|strong="H6440" you|strong="H3605"—the|strong="H3605" good|strong="H2005" and|strong="H3068" the|strong="H3605" evil.
4 I|strong="H0589" will|strong="H3068" cut off both|strong="H3605" good people|strong="H1320" and|strong="H3068" evil people|strong="H1320" from|strong="H3068" you|strong="H3588". I|strong="H0589" will|strong="H3068" pull my|strong="H3605" sword from|strong="H3068" its|strong="H3605" sheath and|strong="H3068" use it|strong="H3588" against|strong="H3605" all|strong="H3605" people|strong="H1320" from|strong="H3068" south to|strong="H3068" north.
5 Then|strong="H0559" everyone will|strong="H0136" know that|strong="H1931" I|strong="H0559" am the|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H0136". They|strong="H1992" will|strong="H0136" know that|strong="H1931" I|strong="H0559" have|strong="H3808" pulled my|strong="H0559" sword from|strong="H3808" its|strong="H3808" sheath. My|strong="H0559" sword will|strong="H0136" not|strong="H3808" go back into its|strong="H3808" sheath again until it|strong="H1931" is|strong="H1931" finished.’
6 “Son of|strong="H3068" man, make sad sounds like|strong="H1961" a|strong="H1961" sad person|strong="H0413" with|strong="H0413" a|strong="H1961" broken heart. Make these sad sounds in|strong="H0413" front of|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0559" people.
7 Then|strong="H7760" they|strong="H3389" will|strong="H3478" ask you|strong="H6440", ‘Why are|strong="H3478" you|strong="H6440" making these|strong="H7760" sad sounds?’ Then|strong="H7760" you|strong="H6440" must|strong="H1121" say|strong="H3478", ‘Because|strong="H6440" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H6440" sad news that|strong="H3478" is|strong="H3478" coming. Every heart will|strong="H3478" melt with|strong="H0413" fear. All hands will|strong="H3478" become weak. Every spirit will|strong="H3478" become weak. All knees will|strong="H3478" be|strong="H1121" like|strong="H3478" water.’ Look, that|strong="H3478" bad news is|strong="H3478" coming. These|strong="H7760" things|strong="H3478" will|strong="H3478" happen!” This is|strong="H3478" what the|strong="H6440" Lord GOD|strong="H0413" said|strong="H0413".
8 The|strong="H0559" word|strong="H0559" of|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068" came|strong="H3318" to|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413". He|strong="H3068" said|strong="H0559",
9 “Son of|strong="H4480" man|strong="H7563", speak to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H1320" for|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413". Say this|strong="H3651", ‘This|strong="H3651" is|strong="H0834" what|strong="H0834" the|strong="H3605" Lord|strong="H6662" says|strong="H3282":
10 The|strong="H3605" sword|strong="H2719" was|strong="H3068" made|strong="H3045" sharp for|strong="H3588" killing.
11 So|strong="H0859" the|strong="H5869" sword has|strong="H5869" been polished.
12 “‘Son of|strong="H3027" man|strong="H3605", shout out|strong="H4100" and|strong="H0935" scream because|strong="H3588" the|strong="H3605" sword will|strong="H1961" be|strong="H1961" used|strong="H1961" against|strong="H5921" my|strong="H3605" people|strong="H3820" and|strong="H0935" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" rulers of|strong="H3027" Israel. They|strong="H3588" wanted war—so|strong="H1961" they|strong="H3588" will|strong="H1961" be|strong="H1961" with|strong="H0413" my|strong="H3605" people|strong="H3820" when|strong="H3588" the|strong="H3605" sword comes|strong="H0935". So|strong="H1961" slap your|strong="H3605" thigh to|strong="H0413" show|strong="H1961" your|strong="H3605" sadness,
13 because|strong="H0413" it|strong="H1961" is|strong="H3068" not|strong="H1961" just|strong="H1697" a|strong="H1961" test. You|strong="H0413" refused to|strong="H0413" be|strong="H1961" punished with|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" wooden stick, so|strong="H1961" what|strong="H1697" else should|strong="H3068" I|strong="H1697" use|strong="H1961" to|strong="H0413" punish you|strong="H0413"? \+w A|strong="H1961"\+w* sword?’” This|strong="H1697" is|strong="H3068" what|strong="H1697" the|strong="H0559" Lord|strong="H3068" GOD|strong="H3068" said|strong="H0559".
14 “Son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" man|strong="H0120", clap your|strong="H0559" hands to|strong="H0559" show|strong="H2300" your|strong="H0559" sadness,
15 Their|strong="H3605" hearts will|strong="H1961" melt with|strong="H3605" fear,
16 Sword|strong="H2719", be|strong="H3027" sharp|strong="H2300"!
17 “Then|strong="H1961" I|strong="H3588", too, will|strong="H1961" clap|strong="H5606" my|strong="H3605" hands
18 The|strong="H5002" word of|strong="H7626" the|strong="H5002" LORD|strong="H0136" came|strong="H1961" to|strong="H1961" me|strong="H1961". He|strong="H3588" said,
19 “Son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" man|strong="H0120", draw two|strong="H5221" roads that|strong="H1931" the|strong="H0413" sword|strong="H2719" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0413" king of|strong="H1121" Babylon can|strong="H0120" use|strong="H1931" to|strong="H0413" come to|strong="H0413" Israel. Both|strong="H0120" roads will|strong="H2719" come from|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0413" same|strong="H1931" country. Then|strong="H0859" draw a|strong="H5221" sign at|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0413" head of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0413" road to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0413" city|strong="H1931".
20 Use the|strong="H3605" sign to|strong="H5921" show|strong="H5414" which|strong="H2719" road the|strong="H3605" sword|strong="H2719" will|strong="H2719" use. One|strong="H3605" road leads to|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" Ammonite city|strong="H8179" of|strong="H8179" Rabbah. The|strong="H3605" other|strong="H3605" road leads to|strong="H5921" Judah, to|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" protected city|strong="H8179", Jerusalem|strong="H4616".
21 The|strong="H6440" king of|strong="H6440" Babylon has come to|strong="H6440" where|strong="H0575" the|strong="H6440" two roads separate. He|strong="H6440" uses magic to|strong="H6440" learn which way|strong="H6440" to|strong="H6440" go|strong="H8041": He|strong="H6440" shakes his|strong="H7760" arrows, he|strong="H6440" asks his|strong="H7760" family idols, and|strong="H6440" he|strong="H6440" looks at the|strong="H6440" liver from|strong="H6440" an|strong="H7760" animal he|strong="H6440" has killed.
22 “The|strong="H0413" signs tell|strong="H1696" him|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" take|strong="H5221" the|strong="H0413" road on|strong="H0413" his|strong="H3068" right|strong="H1571", the|strong="H0413" road leading to|strong="H0413" Jerusalem, where|strong="H0413" he|strong="H3068" will|strong="H3068" use battering rams. The|strong="H0413" signs tell|strong="H1696" him|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" give|strong="H5117" the|strong="H0413" command for|strong="H0413" his|strong="H3068" soldiers to|strong="H0413" begin the|strong="H0413" killing|strong="H5221". They|strong="H3068" will|strong="H3068" shout the|strong="H0413" battle cry and|strong="H3068" set|strong="H5117" the|strong="H0413" battering rams against|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0413" gates. They|strong="H3068" will|strong="H3068" build a|strong="H1696" wall of|strong="H3068" dirt around the|strong="H0413" city and|strong="H3068" a|strong="H1696" dirt road leading up|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0413" walls. They|strong="H3068" will|strong="H3068" build wooden towers to|strong="H0413" attack|strong="H5221" the|strong="H0413" city.
23 But|strong="H1961" the|strong="H0559" people in|strong="H0413" Jerusalem will|strong="H3068" think|strong="H0559" this|strong="H1697" is|strong="H3068" all|strong="H1697" a|strong="H1961" big mistake. They|strong="H3068" will|strong="H3068" not|strong="H1961" believe that|strong="H1697" this|strong="H1697" could|strong="H1697" happen|strong="H1961", because|strong="H0413" they|strong="H3068" had|strong="H3068" made|strong="H1961" a|strong="H1961" peace agreement|strong="H1697" with|strong="H0413" Babylon’s king. But|strong="H1961" the|strong="H0559" king will|strong="H3068" remind them|strong="H0413" that|strong="H1697" they|strong="H3068" are|strong="H3068" guilty of|strong="H3068" breaking that|strong="H1697" agreement|strong="H1697", and|strong="H3068" he|strong="H3068" will|strong="H3068" take|strong="H1961" them|strong="H0413" captive.”
24 This|strong="H0935" is|strong="H0776" what|strong="H1870" the|strong="H0935" Lord GOD|strong="H3027" says: “You|strong="H0859" have|strong="H1121" done|strong="H3027" many evil things|strong="H8147". Your|strong="H7760" sins are|strong="H3027" very clear|strong="H3318". You|strong="H0859" forced me|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0935" remember that|strong="H0776" you|strong="H0859" are|strong="H3027" guilty, so|strong="H3318" the|strong="H0935" enemy will|strong="H0776" catch you|strong="H0859" in|strong="H0935" his|strong="H7760" hand|strong="H3027".
25 And|strong="H1121" you|strong="H7760", evil leader of|strong="H1121" Israel, you|strong="H7760" will|strong="H2719" be|strong="H1121" killed|strong="H2719". Your|strong="H7760" time of|strong="H1121" punishment has|strong="H3063" come|strong="H0935"! The|strong="H0853" end is|strong="H1870" here|strong="H7760"!”
26 This|strong="H3588" is|strong="H1870" what|strong="H3588" the|strong="H3588" Lord GOD|strong="H0413" says: “Take|strong="H7200" off|strong="H7218" the|strong="H3588" turban! Take|strong="H7200" off|strong="H7218" the|strong="H3588" crown! The|strong="H3588" time|strong="H7218" has|strong="H4428" come to|strong="H0413" change. The|strong="H3588" important leaders|strong="H7218" will|strong="H4428" be|strong="H0517" brought|strong="H7043" low, and|strong="H4428" those|strong="H7080" who|strong="H4428" are|strong="H1870" not|strong="H3588" important now|strong="H3588" will|strong="H4428" become|strong="H7200" important leaders|strong="H7218".
27 I|strong="H7760" will|strong="H1961" completely destroy that|strong="H1961" city|strong="H8179"! But|strong="H1961" this will|strong="H1961" not|strong="H1961" happen|strong="H1961" until|strong="H5921" the|strong="H5921" right|strong="H3225" man|strong="H8179" becomes|strong="H1961" the|strong="H5921" new king|strong="H5921". Then|strong="H1961" I|strong="H7760" will|strong="H1961" let|strong="H1961" him|strong="H5921" have|strong="H1961" this city|strong="H8179".”
28 “Son of|strong="H5869" man, speak to|strong="H1961" the|strong="H1961" people|strong="H5869" for|strong="H5869" me|strong="H1961". Say this|strong="H1931", ‘This|strong="H1931" is|strong="H1931" what the|strong="H1961" Lord GOD says to|strong="H1961" the|strong="H1961" people|strong="H5869" of|strong="H5869" Ammon and|strong="H5869" their|strong="H1961" shameful god:
29 “‘Your|strong="H3605" visions are|strong="H6588" useless.
30 “‘Put|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0834" sword back|strong="H0935" in|strong="H0935" its|strong="H0935" sheath. Babylon, I|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" judge you|strong="H0859" in|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0834" place|strong="H0935" where|strong="H0834" you|strong="H0859" were|strong="H0834" created, in|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0834" land where|strong="H0834" you|strong="H0859" were|strong="H0834" born|strong="H0935".
31 I|strong="H3541" will|strong="H3808" pour out my|strong="H5493" anger against you|strong="H3808". My|strong="H5493" anger will|strong="H3808" burn you|strong="H3808" like|strong="H3808" a|strong="H3808" hot wind. I|strong="H3541" will|strong="H3808" hand you|strong="H3808" over|strong="H3541" to|strong="H0559" cruel men|strong="H0559". Those|strong="H2063" men|strong="H0559" are|strong="H3808" skilled at|strong="H3808" killing people|strong="H3808".
32 You|strong="H0834" will|strong="H1961" be|strong="H1961" like|strong="H1961" fuel for|strong="H4941" the|strong="H0834" fire. Your|strong="H5414" blood will|strong="H1961" flow|strong="H0935" deep into|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0834" earth—people|strong="H0834" will|strong="H1961" never|strong="H3808" remember you|strong="H0834" again|strong="H1961". I|strong="H0834", the|strong="H0834" LORD, have|strong="H1961" spoken|strong="H0935"!’”