1. 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.”

1. Puis il cria d`une voix forte à mes oreilles: Approchez, vous qui devez châtier la ville, chacun son instrument de destruction à la main!

2. 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.

2. Et voici, six hommes arrivèrent par le chemin de la porte supérieure du côté du septentrion, chacun son instrument de destruction à la main. Il y avait au milieu d`eux un homme vêtu de lin, et portant une écritoire à la ceinture. Ils vinrent se placer près de l`autel d`airain.

3. 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.

3. La gloire du Dieu d`Israël s`éleva du chérubin sur lequel elle était, et se dirigea vers le seuil de la maison; et il appela l`homme vêtu de lin, et portant une écritoire à la ceinture.

4. 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.”

4. L`Éternel lui dit: Passe au milieu de la ville, au milieu de Jérusalem, et fais une marque sur le front des hommes qui soupirent et qui gémissent à cause de toutes les abominations qui s`y commettent.

5. 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.

5. Et, à mes oreilles, il dit aux autres: Passez après lui dans la ville, et frappez; que votre oeil soit sans pitié, et n`ayez point de miséricorde!

6. Kill, even to utter destruction, old men, young men, and virgins, little ones, and women. But all upon whom 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.

6. Tuez, détruisez les vieillards, les jeunes hommes, les vierges, les enfants et les femmes; mais n`approchez pas de quiconque aura sur lui la marque; et commencez par mon sanctuaire! Ils commencèrent par les anciens qui étaient devant la maison.

7. 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.

7. Il leur dit: Souillez la maison, et remplissez de morts les parvis!... Sortez!... Ils sortirent, et ils frappèrent dans la ville.

8. 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?”

8. Comme ils frappaient, et que je restais encore, je tombai sur ma face, et je m`écriai: Ah! Seigneur Éternel, détruiras-tu tout ce qui reste d`Israël, en répandant ta fureur sur Jérusalem?

9. 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.’

9. Il me répondit: L`iniquité de la maison d`Israël et de Juda est grande, excessive; le pays est rempli de meurtres, la ville est pleine d`injustice, car ils disent: L`Éternel a abandonné le pays, l`Éternel ne voit rien.

10. Therefore, my eye will not be lenient, and I will not take pity. I will repay their own way upon their head.”

10. Moi aussi, je serai sans pitié, et je n`aurai point de miséricorde; je ferai retomber leurs oeuvres sur leur tête.

11. 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.”

11. Et voici, l`homme vêtu de lin, et portant une écritoire à la ceinture, rendit cette réponse: J`ai fait ce que tu m`as ordonné.





“Nas tentações, combata com coragem! Nas quedas, humilhe-se mas não desanime!” São Padre Pio de Pietrelcina