"Utterlyslayoldmen,youngmen,maidens,littlechildren,and women,but do not touchanymanon whomis the mark;and you shall startfrom My sanctuary."So they startedwith the elderswho[were] beforethe temple.
So the LORDsaidto him, "ThereforewhoeverkillsCain,vengeancewill be takenon him sevenfold."And the LORDappointeda signfor Cain,so that noonefindinghim would slayhim.
Therefore He broughtup againstthem the kingof the Chaldeanswho slewtheir youngmenwith the swordin the houseof their sanctuary,and hadnocompassionon youngmanor virgin,oldmanor infirm;He gave[them] allinto his hand.
"For the LORDwill passthroughto smitethe Egyptians;and when He seesthe bloodon the linteland on the twodoorposts,the LORDwill passoverthe doorand will not allowthe destroyerto comein to your housesto smite[you].
"Both greatmenand smallwill diein thisland;they will not be buried,they will not be lamented,norwill anyone gashhimself or shavehis headfor them.
"For behold,I am beginningto workcalamityin [this] citywhichis calledby My name,and shall you be completelyfreefrom punishment?You will not be freefrom punishment;for I am summoninga swordagainstallthe inhabitantsof the earth,"declaresthe LORDof hosts.'
Nowthen thussaysthe LORDGodof hosts,the Godof Israel,"Whyare you doinggreatharmto yourselves,so as to cutofffrom you manand woman,childand infant,from amongJudah,leavingyourselves withoutremnant,
provokingMe to angerwith the worksof your hands,burningsacrificesto othergodsin the landof Egypt,whereyou are enteringto reside,sothat you might be cutoffand becomea curseand a reproachamong allthe nationsof the earth?
But I am fullof the wrathof the LORD;I am wearywith holding[it] in. "Pour[it] out on the childrenin the streetAnd on the gatheringof youngmentogether;For bothhusbandand wifeshall be taken,The agedand the veryold.
For deathhas comeup through our windows;It has enteredour palacesTo cutoffthe childrenfrom the streets,The youngmenfrom the townsquares.
Moreover, the Spiritliftedme up and broughtme to the eastgateof the LORD'Shousewhich facedeastward.And behold,[there were] twenty-fivemenat the entranceof the gate,and amongthem I sawJaazaniahsonof Azzurand Pelatiahsonof Benaiah,leadersof the people.
The LORDsaidto him, "Gothrough the midstof the city,[even] through the midstof Jerusalem,and puta markon the foreheadsof the menwho sighand groanoverallthe abominationswhich are being committedin its midst."
But to the othersHe saidin my hearing,"Gothrough the cityafterhim and strike;do not let your eyehavepityand do not spare.
"You onlyhave I chosenamongallthe familiesof the earth;ThereforeI will punishyou for allyour iniquities."
"And that slavewho knewhis master'swilland did not get readyoractin accordwith his will, willreceivemanylashes,
"So we capturedallhis citiesat that timeand utterlydestroyedthe men,womenand childrenof everycity.We leftnosurvivor.
"We utterlydestroyedthem, as we didto Sihonkingof Heshbon,utterlydestroyingthe men,womenand childrenof everycity.
I will heapmisfortuneson them; I will useMy arrowson them.
Nevertheless,the firmfoundationof Godstands,havingthisseal,"The Lordknowsthosewho are His," and, "Everyonewho namesthe nameof the Lordis to abstainfrom wickedness."
Theseare the ones who have not been defiledwith women,for they have kept themselveschaste.These[are] the ones who followthe LambwhereverHe goes.Thesehave been purchasedfrom amongmenas first fruitsto Godand to the Lamb.
saying,"Do not harmthe earthorthe seaorthe treesuntilwe have sealedthe bond-servantsof our Godon their foreheads."
They were toldnot to hurtthe grassof the earth,noranygreen thing,noranytree,but onlythe menwhodo not havethe sealof Godon their foreheads.
Nowgoand strikeAmalekand utterlydestroyallthat he has, and do not sparehim; but putto deathbothmanand woman,childand infant,oxand sheep,cameland donkey.'"
