14 “Son of man, prophesy and say, thus says Adonai, and say: ‘A sword! A sword! Sharpened and also polished!
15 Sharpened to slaughter ruthlessly! Polished so it will flash like lightning! Or should we rejoice? It is the rod, My son—despising every tree!
16 It is given to be polished, to be seized. The sword is sharpened, polished, to be put into the hand of the slayer.
17 Cry and wail, son of man! For it is against My people. It is against all the leaders of Israel. They are thrown over to the sword, along with My people. Therefore strike your thigh.
18 For it is a testing. What if they scorn even the rod? It must not be!” It is a declaration of Adonai.
19 You, son of man, prophesy. Strike your hands together. The sword will strike twice, even three times, a sword for the slain, a sword for a great slaughter—it surrounds them!
20 So that their hearts will melt and many will stumble and fall, I have set the point of the sword against all their gates. Alas! It is made for lightning, it is polished for slaughter.