耶和華審判的刀
1耶和華對我說： 2「人子啊，你要面向耶路撒冷，說預言斥責以色列和聖所， 3告訴以色列，耶和華這樣說，『我要與你為敵，我要拔刀將你那裡的義人和惡人一同消滅， 4從南到北不留一人， 5使世人都知道我耶和華已拔刀出鞘，不再收回。』 6人子啊，你要在他們面前哀歎，要傷心欲絕地哀歎。 7如果有人問你為什麼哀歎，你就說有噩耗傳來，聽見的人都膽戰心驚、兩手發軟、精神萎靡、膝弱如水。災難必很快發生。這是主耶和華說的。」
8耶和華對我說： 9「人子啊，你要說預言，告訴他們，耶和華這樣說，
『有一把刀，
有一把刀磨快擦亮了，
10磨得鋒利，為要殺戮，
擦得亮如閃電。
我們豈能因我兒的權杖而快樂？這刀鄙視一切權杖。 11這刀已交給人去擦亮，好握在手中，這刀已磨快擦亮，預備交給屠殺的人。 12人子啊，號啕大哭吧，因為這刀要攻擊我的子民和所有以色列的首領，他們都要死於刀下。所以你要捶胸頓足。 13這刀必試驗他們，這刀所鄙視的權杖若不復存在，怎麼辦呢？這是主耶和華說的。』
14「人子啊，你要拍掌對他們說預言，你要拿刀揮舞兩三次，預示這刀要從四面八方大肆殺戮， 15使他們嚇得肝膽俱裂，許多人倒在家門口。我已賜下這亮如閃電的刀，用來殺戮。 16刀啊，你要左砍右劈，大肆殺戮。 17我要拍掌，我的烈怒要平息。這是我耶和華說的。」
18耶和華對我說： 19「人子啊，你要為巴比倫王的刀畫出兩條進攻之路，兩條路要從一個地方出發，要在通往城邑的路口設路標。 20一條路通往亞捫的拉巴城，一條路通往猶大的堅城耶路撒冷。 21巴比倫王將站在兩路的岔口，搖籤求問他的神像，察看祭牲的肝。 22他右手拿到的是攻打耶路撒冷的籤，於是，他用撞城錘來攻耶路撒冷的城門，廝殺吶喊，建壘築臺圍攻城池。 23猶大人必認為這是虛假的徵兆。他們曾向巴比倫王發誓效忠，但巴比倫王要使他們想起自己的罪，並擄走他們。
24「主耶和華說，『因為你們的過犯昭然若揭，你們的罪惡表露無遺，因此，你們必遭擄掠。 25你這邪惡敗壞的以色列首領啊！你的結局到了，審判你的日子來了。』 26主耶和華說，『取下你的頭巾，摘下你的冠冕吧，時局轉變了。要提拔卑微的，貶抑高貴的。 27毀滅，毀滅，我要毀滅這國，使它蕩然無存，直到那應得的人來到後，這國才能得到重建，我要把這國交給他。』
28「人子啊，你要說有關亞捫人及其恥辱的預言，告訴他們，主耶和華說，『有刀，有刀已出鞘，為要殺戮；它亮如閃電，要行毀滅。 29有關你們的異象和占卜是虛假的，你們將與其他惡人一同被殺，因為你們的結局到了，審判你們的日子來了。 30你們要收刀入鞘，我要在你們的家鄉，在你們的出生之地審判你們， 31我要把烈怒倒在你們身上，將我的怒火噴在你們身上，把你們交在嗜殺成性的惡徒手中， 32你們必被當作柴焚燒，你們的血必流在自己的土地上，無人再記得你們。因為這是我耶和華說的。』」
Babylon as God’s sword of judgment
In Hebrew texts 21:1-32 is numbered 21:6-37. 1The word of the Lord came to me: 2‘Son of man, set your face against Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuary. Prophesy against the land of Israel 3and say to her: “This is what the Lord says: I am against you. I will draw my sword from its sheath and cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked. 4Because I am going to cut off the righteous and the wicked, my sword will be unsheathed against everyone from south to north. 5Then all people will know that I the Lord have drawn my sword from its sheath; it will not return again.”
6‘Therefore groan, son of man! Groan before them with broken heart and bitter grief. 7And when they ask you, “Why are you groaning?” you shall say, “Because of the news that is coming. Every heart will melt with fear and every hand go limp; every spirit will become faint and every leg will be wet with urine.” It is coming! It will surely take place, declares the Sovereign Lord.’
8The word of the Lord came to me: 9‘Son of man, prophesy and say, “This is what the Lord says:
‘ “A sword, a sword,
sharpened and polished –
10sharpened for the slaughter,
polished to flash like lightning!
‘ “Shall we rejoice in the sceptre of my royal son? The sword despises every such stick.
11‘ “The sword is appointed to be polished,
to be grasped with the hand;
it is sharpened and polished,
made ready for the hand of the slayer.
12Cry out and wail, son of man,
for it is against my people;
it is against all the princes of Israel.
They are thrown to the sword
along with my people.
Therefore beat your breast.
13‘ “Testing will surely come. And what if even the sceptre, which the sword despises, does not continue? declares the Sovereign Lord.”
14‘So then, son of man, prophesy
and strike your hands together.
Let the sword strike twice,
even three times.
It is a sword for slaughter –
a sword for great slaughter,
closing in on them from every side.
15So that hearts may melt with fear
and the fallen be many,
I have stationed the sword for slaughter21:15 Septuagint; the meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
at all their gates.
Look! It is forged to strike like lightning,
it is grasped for slaughter.
16Slash to the right, you sword,
then to the left,
wherever your blade is turned.
17I too will strike my hands together,
and my wrath will subside.
I the Lord have spoken.’
18The word of the Lord came to me: 19‘Son of man, mark out two roads for the sword of the king of Babylon to take, both starting from the same country. Make a signpost where the road branches off to the city. 20Mark out one road for the sword to come against Rabbah of the Ammonites and another against Judah and fortified Jerusalem. 21For the king of Babylon will stop at the fork in the road, at the junction of the two roads, to seek an omen: he will cast lots with arrows, he will consult his idols, he will examine the liver. 22Into his right hand will come the lot for Jerusalem, where he is to set up battering-rams, to give the command to slaughter, to sound the battle cry, to set battering-rams against the gates, to build a ramp and to erect siege works. 23It will seem like a false omen to those who have sworn allegiance to him, but he will remind them of their guilt and take them captive.
24‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “Because you people have brought to mind your guilt by your open rebellion, revealing your sins in all that you do – because you have done this, you will be taken captive.
25‘ “You profane and wicked prince of Israel, whose day has come, whose time of punishment has reached its climax, 26this is what the Sovereign Lord says: take off the turban, remove the crown. It will not be as it was: The lowly will be exalted and the exalted will be brought low. 27A ruin! A ruin! I will make it a ruin! The crown will not be restored until he to whom it rightfully belongs shall come; to him I will give it.”
28‘And you, son of man, prophesy and say, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says about the Ammonites and their insults:
‘ “A sword, a sword,
drawn for the slaughter,
polished to consume
and to flash like lightning!
29Despite false visions concerning you
and lying divinations about you,
it will be laid on the necks
of the wicked who are to be slain,
whose day has come,
whose time of punishment has reached its climax.
30‘ “Let the sword return to its sheath.
In the place where you were created,
in the land of your ancestry,
I will judge you.
31I will pour out my wrath on you
and breathe out my fiery anger against you;
I will deliver you into the hands of brutal men,
men skilled in destruction.
32You will be fuel for the fire,
your blood will be shed in your land,
you will be remembered no more;
for I the Lord have spoken.” ’
