1 No sexto ano, no quinto dia do sexto mês, estava eu sentado em minha casa, com os anciãos de Judá, quando a mão do Senhor baixou sobre mim.2 Olhei: enxerguei algo como uma silhueta humana. Abaixo do que parecia serem seus rins, era fogo e, desde os rins até o alto, havia um clarão vermelho.3 Estendeu uma espécie de mão, e me agarrou pelos cachos dos cabelos. O espírito levantou-me entre o céu e a terra, e me levou a Jerusalém, em visões divinas, à entrada da porta interior que olha para o norte, lá onde se erige o ídolo que provoca o ciúme {do Senhor}.4 Lá se me manifestou a glória do Deus de Israel, tal como a visão que tive no vale.5 E ele me disse: filho do homem, ergue os olhos para o norte. Levantei os olhos para o norte, e vi ao norte da porta do altar, à entrada, o ídolo que provoca o ciúme {do Senhor}.6 Filho do homem, disse-me, vês tu a abominação que praticam, como eles procedem na casa de Israel, para que eu me afaste do meu santuário? Verás, todavia, coisas muito mais graves.7 Conduziu-me até a entrada do adro e, reparando, vi que havia um rombo no muro.8 Filho do homem, disse-me ele, fura a muralha. Quando a furei, divisei uma porta.9 Aproxima-te, diz ele, e contempla as horríveis abominações a que se entregam aqui.10 Fui até ali para olhar: enxerguei aí toda espécie de imagens de répteis e de animais imundos e, pintados em volta da parede, todos os ídolos da casa de Israel.11 Setenta anciãos da casa de Israel, entre os quais Jazanias, filho de Safã, se achavam de pé diante deles, segurando cada qual o seu turíbulo, do qual se elevava espessa nuvem de fumaça.12 Filho do homem, disse-me ele, vês tu o que fazem os anciãos de Israel na obscuridade, cada um deles em sua câmara, guarnecida de ídolos, pensando que o Senhor não os vê, e que ele abandonou a terra?13 E ajuntou: Verás ainda abominações mais graves que eles estão cometendo.14 Conduziu-me, então, para a entrada da porta setentrional da casa do Senhor: mulheres estavam assentadas, chorando Tamuz.15 Filho do homem, falou-me, tu viste? Verás ainda abominações piores do que estas.16 Levou-me então ao interior do templo. À entrada do santuário do Senhor, entre o vestíbulo e o altar, avistei cerca de vinte e cinco homens, que, de costas para o santuário do Senhor, com a face voltada para o oriente, se prosternavam diante do sol.17 Filho do homem, disse-me ele, vês isto? Não basta à casa de Judá entregar-se a esses ritos abomináveis que aqui se praticam? Haverá ainda ela de encher a terra de violência, e não cessará de me irritar? Ei-los que trazem o ramo ao nariz.18 Está bem! Eu, de minha parte, procederei com furor, não terei condescendência, serei impiedoso. Inutilmente clamarão a meus ouvidos, não os ouvirei.

1 And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month, that I was sitting in my house, and the elders of Judah were sitting before me; and there fell upon me there the inspiration of the Lord Eternal.2 And I saw, and, behold, there was a likeness similar to the appearance of fire; from the appearance of his loins downward, it was fire; and from his loins upward, it was similar to the appearance of a bright light, like the glitter of amber.3 And he stretched forth the form of a hand, and took me by the locks of my head; and a spirit bore me between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north, where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to wrath.4 And, behold, there was the glory of the God of Israel, like the appearance which I had seen in the valley.5 And he said unto me, Son of man, do but lift up thy eyes in the direction toward the north. So I lifted up my eyes in the direction toward the north, and behold northward at the gate of the altar there was this image of jealousy at the entrance.6 Then said he unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they are doing? great abominations are they that the house of Israel commit here, to make me go far away from my sanctuary; but thou shalt yet see still other great abominations.7 And he brought me to the door of the court: and I looked, and behold there was a hole in the wall.8 Then said he unto me, Son of man, do break an opening in the wall: and I broke an opening in the wall, and, behold, there was a door.9 And he said unto me, Go in, and see the wicked abominations which they are doing here.10 So I went in and saw; and behold there was every form of creeping things, and cattle, abominations, and all the idols of the house of Israel, engraven upon the wall all round about.11 And seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, and Yaazanyahu the son of Shaphan standing in the midst of them, were standing before them, and every man had his censer in his hand; and a thick curling cloud of incense was ascending upward.12 Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, every man in his image–chambers? for they say, The Lord seeth us not: the Lord hath forsaken the earth.13 And he said unto me, Thou shalt yet again see still other great abominations that they are doing.14 And he brought me to the entrance of the gate of the Lord’s house which was on the north side: and, behold, there sat the women weeping for Thammuz.15 Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Thou shalt yet again see still other greater abominations than these.16 And he brought me into the inner court of the Lord’s house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the Lord, and their faces toward the east; and they were prostrating themselves eastward to the sun.17 Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it too light a thing for the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and they constantly repeat to provoke me to anger; and, lo, they stretch forth the branch to their nose.18 Therefore I also will deal in fury; my eye shall not look with pity, and I will not spare: and though they call before my ears with a loud voice, will I still not hear them.