Because your heart was tender, and you have humbled yourself before the LORD, when you heard what I spoke against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and have torn your clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard you, says the LORD.
But if you will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and my eye shall weep bitterly, and run down with tears, because the LORD’S flock is taken away captive.
And the LORD said to him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that are done in the midst thereof.
Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but do not come near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.
And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought to his kindred a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
For I fear, that, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would like, and that I shall be found by you such as you would not like: lest there be debates, envying, wrath, strife, backbiting, whispering, pride, tumults:
And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall mourn many who have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.