[1] And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, [2] Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel, [3] And say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth my sword out of his sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked. [4] Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall my sword go forth out of his sheath against all flesh from the south to the north: [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 bitterness sigh 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 as water: behold, it cometh, and shall be brought to pass, saith the Lord GOD. [8] Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, [9] Son of man, prophesy, and say, A sword, is sharpened, and also furbished: [10] It is sharpened to make a sore slaughter; that it may glitter: should we then make mirth? it contemneth 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, 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 by reason of the sword shall be upon my people: smite therefore upon thy thigh. [13] Because it is a trial, and what if the sword contemn even the rod? it shall be no more, saith the Lord GOD. [14] Thou therefore, son of man, prophesy, thine hands 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 of the sword against all their gates, that their heart may faint, and their ruins be multiplied: ah! it is made bright, it is wrapped up [16] Go thee one way or other, either on the right hand, or on the left, whithersoever thy face is set. [17] I will also smite mine hands and I will cause my fury to rest: I the LORD have said it.