A sword sharpened and polished

13And the word of Yahweh came to me, saying:

14Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: Say, “A sword, a sword, sharpened and also polished.”’

15So that it may slaughter a slaughter, it is sharpened; so that it may have a flash, it is polished. Or shall we rejoice? The scepter of my son despises every tree.

16It is given to be polished, to be grasped in the hand. It is sharpened—the sword—and it is polished, to put it into the hand of a slayer.

17Cry out and wail, son of man, for it has come upon my people; it is upon all the princes of Israel. They are given over to the sword along with my people; therefore strike your thigh.

18For there is a testing; and what if even the scepter that despises will not remain? declares the Lord GOD.

19And you, son of man, prophesy and strike palm to palm, and let the sword be doubled a third time—the sword of the slain. It is the sword of the great slain one, the one that presses in on them.

20so that the heart may melt and the stumbling blocks may be many. At all their gates I have set the flash of the sword. Ah! It is made for lightning, drawn for slaughter.

21Gather yourself; go to the right; set yourself to the left, wherever your face is appointed.

22And I too will strike my hands together, and I will satisfy my wrath. I, Yahweh, have spoken.