Hiezechielis Prophetæ 9
1 Et clamavit in auribus meis voce magna, dicens: Appropinquaverunt visitationes urbis, et unusquisque vas interfectionis habet in manu sua.
And he cried out in my ears with a loud voice, saying: “The visitations of the city have drawn near, and each one has equipment for killing in his hand.”
2 Et ecce sex viri veniebant de via portae superioris, quae respicit ad Aquilonem: et uniuscuiusque vas interitus in manu eius: vir quoque unus in medio eorum vestitus erat lineis, et atramentarium scriptoris ad renes eius: et ingressi sunt, et steterunt iuxta altare aereum:
And behold, six men were approaching from the way of the upper gate, which looks to the north. And each one had equipment for killing in his hand. Also, one man in their midst was clothed with linen, and an instrument for writing was at his waist. And they entered and stood beside the bronze altar.
3 Et gloria Domini Israel assumpta est de cherub, quae erat super eum ad limen domus: et vocavit virum, qui indutus erat lineis, et atramentarium scriptoris habebat in lumbis suis.
And the glory of the Lord of Israel was taken up, from the cherub upon which he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called out to the man who was clothed with linen and had an instrument for writing at his waist.
4 Et dixit Dominus ad eum: Transi per mediam civitatem in medio Ierusalem: et signa thau super frontes virorum gementium, et dolentium super cunctis abominationibus, quae fiunt in medio eius.
And the Lord said to him: “Cross through the middle of the city, in the center of Jerusalem, and seal a Tau upon the foreheads of the grieving men, who are mourning over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst.”
5 Et illis dixit, audiente me: Transite per civitatem sequentes eum, et percutite: non parcat oculus vester, neque misereamini.
And he said to the others, in my hearing: “Cross through the city after him, and strike! Your eye shall not be lenient, and you shall not take pity.
6 Senem, adolescentulum, et virginem, parvulos, et mulieres interficite usque ad internecionem: omnem autem, super quem videritis thau, ne occidatis, et a sanctuario meo incipite. Coeperunt ergo a viris senioribus, qui erant ante faciem domus.
Kill, even to utter destruction, old men, young men, and virgins, little ones, and women. But all upon whom you see the Tau, you shall not kill. And begin from my sanctuary.” Therefore, they began with the men among the elders, who were before the face of the house.
7 Et dixit ad eos: Contaminate domum, et implete atria interfectis: egredimini. Et egressi sunt, et percutiebant eos, qui erant in civitate.
And he said to them: “Defile the house, and fill its courts with the slain! Go forth!” And they went forth and struck down those who were in the city.
8 Et caede completa, remansi ego: ruique super faciem meam, et clamans aio: Heu, heu, heu Domine Deus: ergone disperdes omnes reliquias Israel, effundens furorem tuum super Ierusalem?
And when the slaughter was completed, I remained. And I fell upon my face, and crying out, I said: “Alas, alas, alas, O Lord God! Will you now destroy the entire remnant of Israel, by pouring out your fury upon Jerusalem?”
9 Et dixit ad me: Iniquitas domus Israel, et Iuda, magna est nimis valde, et repleta est terra sanguinibus, et civitas repleta est aversione: dixerunt enim: Dereliquit Dominus terram, et Dominus non videt.
And he said to me: “The iniquity of the house of Israel, and of Judah, is vast and exceedingly great, and the land has been filled with blood, and the city has been filled with what is abhorrent. For they have said: ‘The Lord has forsaken the earth,’ and, ‘The Lord does not see.’
10 Igitur et meus non parcet oculus, neque miserebor: viam eorum super caput eorum reddam.
Therefore, my eye will not be lenient, and I will not take pity. I will repay their own way upon their head.”
11 Et ecce vir, qui erat indutus lineis, qui habebat atramentarium in dorso suo, respondit verbum, dicens: Feci sicut praecepisti mihi.
And behold, the man who was clothed with linen, who had a writing instrument at his back, responded a word, saying: “I have done just as you instructed me.”
