5
That all flesh may know that I the LORD have drawn forth my sword out of his sheath: it shall not return any more.
6
Sigh therefore, thou son of man, with the breaking of thy loins; and with bitternesssigh before their eyes.
7
And it shall be, when they say unto thee, Wherefore sighest thou? that thou shalt answer, For the tidings; because it cometh: and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all knees shall be weak[a] as water: behold, it cometh, and shall be brought to pass, saith the LordGOD.
8
Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
9
Son of man,prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD;Say, A sword, a sword is sharpened, and also furbished:
10
It is sharpened to make a soreslaughter; it is furbished that it may glitter:should we then make mirth? it contemneth[b] the rod of my son, as every tree.
11
And he hath given it to be furbished, that it may be handled*: this sword is sharpened, and it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the slayer.
12
Cry and howl, son of man: for it shall be upon my people, it shall be upon all the princes of Israel:terrors[c] by reason of the sword shall be upon my people:smite therefore upon thy thigh.
13
Because it is a trial,[d] and what if the sword contemn even the rod? it shall be no more, saith the LordGOD.
14
Thou therefore, son of man,prophesy, and smite thine hands[e]*together, and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of the slain: it is the sword of the great men that are slain, which entereth into their privy chambers.
15
I have set the point[f] of the sword against all their gates, that their heart may faint, and their ruins be multiplied: ah! it is madebright, it is wrapped up for the slaughter.