1 Então, com grande voz trovejou aos meus ouvidos dizendo: Que se cheguem os responsáveis da cidade, cada um com as suas armas na mão!2 Responderam à chamada seis homens, vindos da porta mais ao norte, cada um com a sua arma; um deles, vestido de linho, trazia um tinteiro de escrivão à cintura. Entraram todos no templo e ficaram de pé junto do altar. E a glória do Deus de Israel levantou-se do querubim sobre o qual estava e pôs-se à entrada do templo. O Senhor disse ao que trazia o tinteiro de escrivão: Passa pelas ruas de Jerusalém e põe um sinal nas testas daqueles que choram e gemem por causa de todos os pecados que vêem à sua volta.5 Ouvi o Senhor dizer para os outros: Sigam através da cidade e matem todos os que não trazem o sinal nas frontes. Não os poupem, não tenham piedade deles - matem-nos a todos, velhos e novos, moças, mulheres, crianças; mas não toquem em ninguém que traga o sinal. Comecem já por aqui, no templo. E começaram por matar os setenta anciãos7 Continuou dizendo: Profanem o templo! Encham os pátios com os corpos dos que mataram! Comecem! Foram através da cidade, fazendo como lhes tinha sido dito.8 Enquanto cumpriam as ordens, fiquei sozinho. Inclinei-me então a chorar e exclamei: Ó Senhor Deus! Vais-te enfurecer contra Jerusalém, destruindo os que ficaram de Israel?9 Mas disse-me: Os pecados do povo de Israel e de Judá são muito grandes; toda a terra está cheia de assassínio e de injustiça, porque afirmam: O Senhor não vê nada. Já se desinteressou pela Terra! Por isso não os pouparei nem terei piedade deles. Castigá-los-ei plenamente por tudo quanto têm praticado.11 Nesse momento o homem vestido de linho, que trazia o tinteiro, regressou e disse: Terminei a missão que me deste.

1 Then he cried in my ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause{+} those who have charge over the city to draw near, every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.2 And look, six men came from the way of the upper gate, which lies toward the north, every man with his slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man in the midst of them clothed in linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side. And they went in, and stood beside the bronze altar.3 And the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub, on which it was, to the threshold of the house: and he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writer's inkhorn by his side.4 And Yahweh said to him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and that cry over all the disgusting things that are done in the midst of it.5 And to the others he said in my hearing, Go{+} through the city after him, and strike: don't let your{+} eye spare, neither have{+} pity;6 slay completely the old man, the young man and the virgin, and little children and women; but don't come near any man on whom is the mark: and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the old men who were before the house.7 And he said to them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go{+} forth. And they went forth, and struck in the city.8 And it came to pass, while they were striking, and I was left, that I fell on my face, and cried, and said, Ah Sovereign Yahweh! Will you destroy all the residue of Israel in your pouring out of your wrath on Jerusalem?9 Then he said to me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of wresting [of judgment]: for they say, Yahweh has forsaken the land, and Yahweh does not see.10 And as for me also, my eye will not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will bring their way on their head.11 And look, the man clothed in linen, who had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as you have commanded me.