Hiezechielis Prophetæ 9

1 Et clamavit in auribus meis voce magna, dicens: Appropinquaverunt visitationes urbis, et unusquisque vas interfectionis habet in manu sua.

Then I heard him shout out with a loud voice, “Start the attack, you who are in charge of punishing Jerusalem! Pick up your weapons!”

2 Et ecce sex viri veniebant de via portæ superioris, quæ respicit ad aquilonem, et uniuscujusque vas interitus in manu ejus: vir quoque unus in medio eorum vestitus erat lineis, et atramentarium scriptoris ad renes ejus: et ingressi sunt, et steterunt juxta altare æreum.

I watched as six men approached from the upper gate that faces north. All of them were carrying battle axes. There was another man with them. He was dressed in linen and had a scribe's writing kit at his side. They entered and stood next to the bronze altar.

3 Et gloria Domini Israël assumpta est de cherub, quæ erat super eum ad limen domus: et vocavit virum qui indutus erat lineis, et atramentarium scriptoris habebat in lumbis suis:

The glory of the God of Israel rose from its usual place on the cherubim and went over to the Temple entrance. The Lord called out to the man dressed in linen with the writing kit,

4 et dixit Dominus ad eum: Transi per mediam civitatem, in medio Jerusalem, et signa thau super frontes virorum gementium et dolentium super cunctis abominationibus quæ fiunt in medio ejus.

“Go through the whole the city of Jerusalem and place a mark on the foreheads of those who sighing and mourning at all the disgusting sins that are done there.”

5 Et illis dixit, audiente me: Transite per civitatem sequentes eum, et percutite: non parcat oculus vester, neque misereamini:

Then I heard him tell the others, “Follow him all through the city and start killing people. Don't be kind or merciful to anyone!

6 senem, adolescentulum et virginem, parvulum et mulieres interficite usque ad internecionem: omnem autem super quem videritis thau, ne occidatis: et a sanctuario meo incipite. Cœperunt ergo a viris senioribus, qui erant ante faciem domus.

Kill the old men, the young men and girls, the women and children, but do not go anywhere near those who have the mark. Start at my sanctuary.” So they started by killing the elders who were in front of the Temple.

7 Et dixit ad eos: Contaminate domum, et implete atria interfectis; egredimini. Et egressi sunt, et percutiebant eos qui erant in civitate.

Then he told them, “Make the Temple unclean and fill the courtyards with dead bodies. Go ahead and do it!” So they went and started killing all through the city.

8 Et cæde completa, remansi ego, ruique super faciem meam, et clamans aio: Heu! heu! heu! Domine Deus: ergone disperdes omnes reliquias Israël, effundens furorem tuum super Jerusalem?

While they were busy killing people, I was left by myself. I fell facedown to the ground and cried out, “Lord God, when you pour out your anger on Jerusalem, are you going to destroy everyone who's left in Israel?”

9 Et dixit ad me: Iniquitas domus Israël et Juda magna est nimis valde, et repleta est terra sanguinibus, et civitas repleta est aversione: dixerunt enim: Dereliquit Dominus terram, et Dominus non videt.

“The sins of the people of Israel and Judah are really terrible,” he replied. “The whole country is full of murderers, and those living in the city are criminals. They're saying, ‘The Lord has given up on our country. He can't see what we're doing.’

10 Igitur et meus non parcet oculus, neque miserebor: viam eorum super caput eorum reddam.

But I certainly won't be kind to them or have mercy on them. I will make sure they suffer the consequences of what they've done.”

11 Et ecce vir qui erat indutus lineis, qui habebat atramentarium in dorso suo, respondit verbum, dicens: Feci sicut præcepisti mihi.

Then the man in linen with the writing kit returned and reported, “I've done what you told me to do.”