1 Then he cried in my ears with a loud voice, saying, "Cause those who are in charge of the city to draw near, each man with his destroying weapon in his hand." 2 Behold, six men came from the way of the upper gate, which lies toward the north, every man with his slaughter weapon in his hand. One man in the middle of them was clothed in linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side. They went in, and stood beside the bronze altar.

3 The glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub, whereupon 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 The LORD said to him, "Go through the middle of the city, through the middle of Jerusalem, and set a mark on the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry over all the abominations that are done within it."

5 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 Kill utterly the old man, the young man, the virgin, little children and women; but don’t come near any man on whom is the mark. Begin at my sanctuary."

Then they began at the old men who were before the house.

7 He said to them, "Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain. Go out!"

They went out, and struck in the city. 8 While they were killing, and I was left, I fell on my face, and cried, and said, "Ah Lord GOD! 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 perversion; for they say, ‘The LORD has forsaken the land, and the LORD doesn’t see.’ 10 As for me also, my eye won’t spare, neither will I have pity, but I will bring their way on their head."

11 Behold, the man clothed in linen, who had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, "I have done as you have commanded me."

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 anciãos

7 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.