Study Desk

Then came the word of Yahweh unto me, saying:

Son of man Set thy face against Jerusalem, And drop thy word against the holy places And prophesy against the so of Israel.

Thou shalt say then to the so of Israel Thus saith Yahweh, Behold me against thee, Therefore will I bring forth my sword out of its sheath, - and will cut off from thee the righteous and the lawless.

Because I have cut off from thee the righteous and the lawless, Therefore shall my sword go forth out of its sheath against all flesh from south to north:

So shall all flesh know that, I, Yahweh have brought forth my sword out of its sheath, - it shall not return any more.

Thou, therefore O son of man sigh, - In the sharp pain of thy loins and in bitterness, shalt thou sigh before their eyes.

And it shall come to pass when they shall say unto thee, Wherefore art thou sighing? that thou shalt say, For the report because it cometh, When every heart shall melt. And all hands be unnerved And every spirit shall become faint. And all knees shall be weak as water, Lo! it cometh and shall be brought to pass, Saith My Lord, Yahweh.

And the word of Yahweh came unto me. saying:

Son of man, Prophesy and thou shalt say, Thus saith My Lord, - Say, A sword! a sword! Sharpened moreover also furbished:

To make a slaughter, is it sharpened, That it may flash as lightning, is it furbished. Or shall we flourish the royal rod of my son which despiseth every tree?

It hath. however been given to be furbished that it may be grasped by the hand:The same is a sword sharpened. Yea the same, is furbished, Ready to be given into the hand of the slayer.

Make an outcry and howl son of man, For the same hath come against my people, the same is against all the princes of Israel,- Who are thrown to the sword with my people, Therefore smite thou upon thy thigh.

For trial hath been made, What then, even though the royal rod despiseth, shall it not be? Demandeth My Lord. Yahweh.

Thou, therefore, son of man, Prophesy, and smite thy hands together, And let the sword smite twice thrice the sword of the slain! the same is the great sword of the slain, that which hemmeth them in.

That the heart may melt And the overthrow be multiplied at all their gates, I have recompensed a slaying by the sword: Surety it hath been made ready to flash like lightning, keen for slaughter.

One firm stroke to the right. Turn to the left,- Whithersoever thine edge is directed,

Yea even I myself, will smite my hands together, And will cause mine indignation to find rest, - Yahweh have spoken.