Ezekiel

Contains visions and prophecies of judgment and restoration for Israel and the nations.

Chapter 21

1 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

*And God spoke to me through his message.

2 Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel,

*Son of man, focus on Jerusalem and speak to the sacred places. Then, prophesy against Israel's land.

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.

*And tell the land of Israel, The Lord says: I am against you. I will take out my sword and, whether good or bad, I will remove people from your land.

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:

*Since I'll remove both good and bad people from you, my sword will come out of its sheath to affect everyone 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.

*So that everyone can understand, this means: "To show everyone that I, the LORD, have taken my sword out of its holder; it will not go back in again."

6 Sigh therefore, thou son of man, with the breaking of thy loins; and with bitterness sigh before their eyes.

*Breath out heavily, human child, because of the pain in your body; and show sadness through your tears in front of others.

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 as water: behold, it cometh, and shall be brought to pass, saith the Lord GOD.

*When people ask why you're sighing, tell them it's for the news because it's happening. Everyone's hearts will become weak, hands shaky, spirits will lose strength, and knees will be like water. It's going to happen, and the Lord says so.

8 Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

*Once more, God's message came to me, saying,

9 Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD; Say, A sword, a sword is sharpened, and also furbished:

*Son, speak for God and say, "God says: A sharp and polished sword is being prepared."

10 It is sharpened to make a sore slaughter; it is furbished that it may glitter: should we then make mirth? it contemneth the rod of my son, as every tree.

*This verse says that something is made sharp for killing and polished to shine, yet we are supposed to be happy about it. It disregards the weapon like a stick used by a child, just like any other 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.

*He polished the sword so it can be used. This sharpened blade is ready, for someone will use it to kill.

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.

*"Cry and shout, human child! This terrible thing will happen to my people and all the leaders of Israel. They'll be scared because of swords. So hit your leg hard."

13 Because it is a trial, and what if the sword contemn even the rod? it shall be no more, saith the Lord GOD.

*Because it is a test, and what if the sword disregards even the stick? it will not exist anymore, says the Lord God.

14 Thou therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite 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.

*So, you - the son of man, go ahead and prophesy. Clap your hands, and make the sword twice as strong for the third time. This is the sword of important people who were killed, and it enters their private rooms.

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 for the slaughter.

*I've aimed the sword at all their doors to make them feel weak and have more destruction. It shines brightly and is hidden for the killing.

16 Go thee one way or other, either on the right hand, or on the left, whithersoever thy face is set.

*Go one way or another, either to the right or left, wherever your direction leads you.

17 I will also smite mine hands together, and I will cause my fury to rest: I the LORD have said it.

*I will clap my hands, and calm my anger. I am the Lord, so it will happen.

18 The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,

*The LORD's message came to me once more, saying,

19 Also, thou son of man, appoint thee two ways, that the sword of the king of Babylon may come: both twain shall come forth out of one land: and choose thou a place, choose it at the head of the way to the city.

*Also, you, human, create two paths so the king of Babylon's sword can enter: both paths will come from one country. You, choose a spot, place it at the start of the path leading to the city.

20 Appoint a way, that the sword may come to Rabbath of the Ammonites, and to Judah in Jerusalem the defenced.

*Create a path for the sword to reach Rabbath of the Ammonites and Judah's fortified city in Jerusalem.

21 For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination: he made his arrows bright, he consulted with images, he looked in the liver.

*The king of Babylon was at a crossroads, at the start of two paths, trying to predict the future using magic. He shined his arrows, talked to statues, and examined a liver for answers.

22 At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to appoint captains, to open the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting, to appoint battering rams against the gates, to cast a mount, and to build a fort.

*At his side was a plan for helping Jerusalem. This plan included choosing leaders, speaking out during battles, shouting loudly, using big machines to break down gates, creating a hill, and building a strong defense.

23 And it shall be unto them as a false divination in their sight, to them that have sworn oaths: but he will call to remembrance the iniquity, that they may be taken.

*This means that for those who made promises, it will seem like a wrong prediction. But God will remember their wrongdoing so they can be punished.

24 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are discovered, so that in all your doings your sins do appear; because, I say, that ye are come to remembrance, ye shall be taken with the hand.

*So, God says this: Since you've made your wrongdoing obvious by your actions, showing your sin clearly, He will take you away using His power.

25 And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end,

*And you, unholy bad ruler of Israel, whose time has arrived when wrongdoing will stop.

26 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high.

*So says the Lord God: Take away the royal headpiece and remove the crown; it won't be the same anymore. Lift up the person who is low and lower the one who is high in status.

27 I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.

*I will change it completely, again and again, until the one who truly owns it comes. Then I will give it to them.

28 And thou, son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning the Ammonites, and concerning their reproach; even say thou, The sword, the sword is drawn: for the slaughter it is furbished, to consume because of the glittering:

*And you, human, prophesy and say, This is what the Lord God declares about the Ammonites and their disgrace. Say, The sword is ready, sharpened for killing. It will be used to destroy because of its shine.

29 Whiles they see vanity unto thee, whiles they divine a lie unto thee, to bring thee upon the necks of them that are slain, of the wicked, whose day is come, when their iniquity shall have an end.

*While they see your glory, while they create falsehoods about you, to place you on the necks of those who are defeated, of the wicked, whose time has arrived, when their wrongdoing will be finished.

30 Shall I cause it to return into his sheath? I will judge thee in the place where thou wast created, in the land of thy nativity.

*"Should I make it go back into its sheath? I will judge you in the place where you were made, in the land of your birth."

31 And I will pour out mine indignation upon thee, I will blow against thee in the fire of my wrath, and deliver thee into the hand of brutish men, and skilful to destroy.

*I will pour my anger on you. I will attack you with the fire of my rage, and give you into the hands of rough people who are skilled at destroying things.

32 Thou shalt be for fuel to the fire; thy blood shall be in the midst of the land; thou shalt be no more remembered: for I the LORD have spoken it.

*You will be used as kindling for a fire; your blood will be spread throughout the land; you will be forgotten; for I, the Lord, have spoken this.

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