8 The word of the Lord came to me:
9 “Son of man, prophesy: This is what the Lord says! You are to proclaim:A sword! A sword is sharpenedand also polished.
10 It is sharpened for slaughter,polished to flash like lightning!Should we rejoice?The scepter of My son,the sword despises every tree.
11 The sword is given to be polished,to be grasped in the hand.It is sharpened, and it is polished,to be put in the hand of the slayer.
12 Cry out and wail, son of man,for it is against My people.It is against all the princes of Israel!They are given over to the sword with My people.Therefore strike your thigh in grief.
13 Surely it will be a trial!And what if the sword despises even the scepter?The scepter will not continue. This is the declaration of the Lord God.
14 Therefore, son of man, prophesyand clap your hands together. Let the sword strike two times, even three.It is a sword for massacre,a sword for great massacre —it surrounds them!