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Ezekiel 21 New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>Ezekiel 21 New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/ezekiel/21.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmcc/ezekiel/21-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com/catholic">Bible</a> > <a href="../">NRSVCE</a> > Ezekiel 21</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../ezekiel/20.htm" title="Ezekiel 20">◄</a> Ezekiel 21 <a href="../ezekiel/22.htm" title="Ezekiel 22">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition</td><td width="1%" valign="top"></td></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><div class="text-html"> <h3><span id="en" class="text">The Drawn Sword of God</span></h3><p class="chapter-2"><span class="text"><span class="versenum">1</span><span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-25045a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote a">a</a>]</span> The word of the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps">Lord</span> came to me: </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">2</span>Mortal, set your face toward Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuaries; prophesy against the land of Israel </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">3</span>and say to the land of Israel, Thus says the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps">Lord</span>: I am coming against you, and will draw my sword out of its sheath, and will cut off from you both righteous and wicked. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">4</span>Because I will cut off from you both righteous and wicked, therefore my sword shall go out of its sheath against all flesh from south to north; </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">5</span>and all flesh shall know that I the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps">Lord</span> have drawn my sword out of its sheath; it shall not be sheathed again. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">6</span>Moan therefore, mortal; moan with breaking heart and bitter grief before their eyes. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">7</span>And when they say to you, “Why do you moan?” you shall say, “Because of the news that has come. Every heart will melt and all hands will be feeble, every spirit will faint and all knees will turn to water. See, it comes and it will be fulfilled,” says the Lord <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps">God</span>.</span></p> <p><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">8</span>And the word of the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps">Lord</span> came to me: </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">9</span>Mortal, prophesy and say: Thus says the Lord; Say:</span></p><div class="poetry"><p class="line"><span class="text">A sword, a sword is sharpened,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">it is also polished;</span></span><br /><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">10</span>it is sharpened for slaughter,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">honed to flash like lightning!</span></span><br /><span class="text">How can we make merry?</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">You have despised the rod,</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">and all discipline.<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-25054b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote b">b</a>]</span></span></span><br /><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">11</span>The sword<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-25055c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote c">c</a>]</span> is given to be polished,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">to be grasped in the hand;</span></span><br /><span class="text">it is sharpened, the sword is polished,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">to be placed in the slayer’s hand.</span></span><br /><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">12</span>Cry and wail, O mortal,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">for it is against my people;</span></span><br /><span class="text">it is against all Israel’s princes;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">they are thrown to the sword,</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">together with my people.</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">Ah! Strike the thigh!</span></span></p></div> <p class="first-line-none"><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">13</span>For consider: What! If you despise the rod, will it not happen?<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-25057d" title="See footnote d">d</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote d">d</a>]</span> says the Lord <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps">God</span>.</span></p> <div class="poetry"><p class="line"><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">14</span>And you, mortal, prophesy;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">strike hand to hand.</span></span><br /><span class="text">Let the sword fall twice, thrice;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">it is a sword for killing.</span></span><br /><span class="text">A sword for great slaughter—</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">it surrounds them;</span></span><br /><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">15</span>therefore hearts melt</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">and many stumble.</span></span><br /><span class="text">At all their gates I have set</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">the point<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-25059e" title="See footnote e">e</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote e">e</a>]</span> of the sword.</span></span><br /><span class="text">Ah! It is made for flashing,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">it is polished<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-25059f" title="See footnote f">f</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote f">f</a>]</span> for slaughter.</span></span><br /><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">16</span>Attack to the right!</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">Engage to the left!</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">—wherever your edge is directed.</span></span><br /><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">17</span>I too will strike hand to hand,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">I will satisfy my fury;</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">I the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps">Lord</span> have spoken.</span></span></p></div> <p><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">18</span>The word of the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps">Lord</span> came to me: </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">19</span>Mortal, mark out two roads for the sword of the king of Babylon to come; both of them shall issue from the same land. And make a signpost, make it for a fork in the road leading to a city; </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">20</span>mark out the road for the sword to come to Rabbah of the Ammonites or to Judah and to<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-25064g" title="See footnote g">g</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote g">g</a>]</span> Jerusalem the fortified. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">21</span>For the king of Babylon stands at the parting of the way, at the fork in the two roads, to use divination; he shakes the arrows, he consults the teraphim,<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-25065h" title="See footnote h">h</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote h">h</a>]</span> he inspects the liver. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">22</span>Into his right hand comes the lot for Jerusalem, to set battering rams, to call out for slaughter, for raising the battle cry, to set battering rams against the gates, to cast up ramps, to build siege towers. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">23</span>But to them it will seem like a false divination; they have sworn solemn oaths; but he brings their guilt to remembrance, bringing about their capture.</span></p> <p><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">24</span>Therefore thus says the Lord <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps">God</span>: Because you have brought your guilt to remembrance, in that your transgressions are uncovered, so that in all your deeds your sins appear—because you have come to remembrance, you shall be taken in hand.<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-25068i" title="See footnote i">i</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote i">i</a>]</span></span></p> <div class="poetry"><p class="line"><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">25</span>As for you, vile, wicked prince of Israel,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">you whose day has come,</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">the time of final punishment,</span></span><br /><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">26</span>thus says the Lord <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps">God</span>:</span><br /><span class="text">Remove the turban, take off the crown;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">things shall not remain as they are.</span></span><br /><span class="text">Exalt that which is low,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">abase that which is high.</span></span><br /><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">27</span>A ruin, a ruin, a ruin—</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">I will make it!</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">(Such has never occurred.)</span></span><br /><span class="text">Until he comes whose right it is;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">to him I will give it.</span></span></p></div> <p><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">28</span>As for you, mortal, prophesy, and say, Thus says the Lord <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps">God</span> concerning the Ammonites, and concerning their reproach; say:</span></p><div class="poetry"><p class="line"><span class="text">A sword, a sword! Drawn for slaughter,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">polished to consume,<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-25072j" title="See footnote j">j</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote j">j</a>]</span> to flash like lightning.</span></span><br /><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">29</span>Offering false visions for you,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">divining lies for you,</span></span><br /><span class="text">they place you over the necks</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">of the vile, wicked ones—</span></span><br /><span class="text">those whose day has come,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">the time of final punishment.</span></span><br /><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">30</span>Return it to its sheath!</span><br /><span class="text">In the place where you were created,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">in the land of your origin,</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">I will judge you.</span></span><br /><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">31</span>I will pour out my indignation upon you,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">with the fire of my wrath</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">I will blow upon you.</span></span><br /><span class="text">I will deliver you into brutish hands,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">those skillful to destroy.</span></span><br /><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">32</span>You shall be fuel for the fire,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">your blood shall enter the earth;</span></span><br /><span class="text">you shall be remembered no more,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">for I the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps">Lord</span> have spoken.</span></span></p></div> <A name="fen"></a><div class="footnotes"><h4>Footnotes</h4><ol><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to Ezekiel 21:1">Ezekiel 21:1</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Ch 21.6 in Heb</span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to Ezekiel 21:10">Ezekiel 21:10</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Meaning of Heb uncertain</span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to Ezekiel 21:11">Ezekiel 21:11</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Heb <i>It</i></span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to Ezekiel 21:13">Ezekiel 21:13</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Meaning of Heb uncertain</span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to Ezekiel 21:15">Ezekiel 21:15</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Meaning of Heb uncertain</span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to Ezekiel 21:15">Ezekiel 21:15</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Tg: Heb <i>wrapped up</i></span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to Ezekiel 21:20">Ezekiel 21:20</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Gk Syr: Heb <i>Judah in</i></span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to Ezekiel 21:21">Ezekiel 21:21</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Or <i>the household gods</i></span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to Ezekiel 21:24">Ezekiel 21:24</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Or <i>be taken captive</i></span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to Ezekiel 21:28">Ezekiel 21:28</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Cn: Heb <i>to contain</i></span></li></ol></div> <!--end of footnotes--></div></div></div></div></div> </div> </div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. 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