The Lord Judges Those Who Worship Other Gods
1Then I heard the Lord call out in a loud voice. He said, “Bring here those who are appointed to bring my judgment on the city. Make sure each of them has a weapon in his hand.” 2I saw six men coming from the direction of the upper gate. It faces north. Each of them had a deadly weapon in his hand. A man wearing linen clothes came along with them. He was carrying a writing kit at his side. They came in and stood beside the bronze altar.
3The glory of the God of Israel had been above the cherubim. It moved from there to the doorway of the temple. Then the Lord called to the man who was dressed in linen clothes. He had the writing kit. 4The Lord said to him, “Go all through Jerusalem. Look for those who are sad and sorry about all the things being done there. I hate those things. Put a mark on the foreheads of those people.”
5I heard him speak to the six men. He said, “Follow him through the city. Do not show any pity or concern. 6Kill the old men and women, the young men and women, and the children. But do not touch anyone who has the mark. Start at my temple.” So they began with the old men who were in front of the temple.
7Then he said to the men, “Make the temple ‘unclean.’ Fill the courtyards with dead bodies. Go!” So they went out and started killing people all through the city. 8While they were doing it, I was left alone. I fell with my face toward the ground. I cried out, “Lord and King, are you going to destroy all the Israelites who are still left alive? Will you pour out your great anger on all those who remain in Jerusalem?”
9He answered me, “The sin of Israel and Judah is very great. The land is full of murderers. Its people are not being fair to one another anywhere in Jerusalem. They say, ‘The Lord has deserted the land. He doesn’t see us.’ 10So I will not spare them or feel sorry for them. Anything that happens to them will be their own fault.”
11Then the man wearing linen clothes returned. He had the writing kit. He reported, “I’ve done what you commanded.”
El castigo de los culpables
1Después oí que Dios clamaba con fuerte voz: «¡Acérquense, verdugos de la ciudad, cada uno con su arma destructora en la mano!». 2Entonces vi que por el camino de la puerta superior que da hacia el norte venían seis hombres, cada uno con un arma mortal en la mano. Con ellos venía un hombre vestido con tela de lino, que llevaba en la cintura un estuche de escriba. Todos ellos entraron y se pararon junto al altar de bronce.
3La gloria del Dios de Israel, que estaba sobre los querubines, se elevó y se dirigió hacia el umbral del Templo. Entonces el Señor llamó al hombre vestido de tela de lino que llevaba en la cintura un estuche de escriba 4y le dijo: «Recorre la ciudad de Jerusalén y coloca una señal en la frente de quienes giman y se lamenten por los actos detestables que se cometen en la ciudad».
5Pero oí que a los otros dijo: «Síganlo. Recorran la ciudad y maten sin piedad ni compasión. 6Maten a viejos y a jóvenes, a muchachas, niños y mujeres; comiencen en el Templo, y no dejen a nadie con vida. Pero no toquen a los que tengan la señal». Y aquellos hombres comenzaron por matar a los ancianos que estaban frente al Templo.
7Después les dijo: «Salgan y profanen el Templo; llenen de cadáveres los atrios».
Ellos salieron y comenzaron a matar gente en toda la ciudad. 8Y mientras mataban, yo me quedé solo, caí rostro en tierra y grité: «¡Ay, Señor y Dios! ¿Descargarás tu furor sobre Jerusalén y destruirás a todo el resto de Israel?».
9Él me respondió: «La iniquidad del pueblo de Israel y de Judá es extremadamente grande. El país está lleno de violencia; la ciudad, llena de injusticia. Porque ellos dicen: “El Señor abandonó la tierra; el Señor no nos ve”. 10Por eso no tendré piedad ni compasión, sino que les pediré cuentas de su conducta».
11Entonces el hombre vestido de tela de lino que llevaba en la cintura un estuche de escriba informó: «Ya hice lo que me mandaste hacer».
