Ezekiel was also commanded to smite with his hand and to stamp with his foot. Clapping the hands and stamping with the feet may denote exultation (chapter xxv:6). But here it is more an outward expression of the vehemence of the judgment. In chapter xxi:7 we read of the Lord smiting His hands. "I will also smite mine hands together, and I will cause my fury to rest, I the Lord have said it." A repetition of the impending judgments forms the conclusion of this first message. Chapter vii. II. The second Judgment Message. The End is at Hand. The Complete Judgment. The seventh chapter which contains the second judgment message, closes the first prophecy of Ezekiel. All the different elements and phases of judgment which had just been foretold by the Prophet are now gathered up in this final great utterance. As the chapter is written in a certain rythm and contains in the authorized version many incorrect renderings, we give a corrected metrical translation. "And the Word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, And thou Son of Man, thus saith Jehovah unto the land of Israel: An end cometh! The end Upon the four corners of the land. Now cometh the end upon thee And I will send mine anger upon thee, And I will judge thee according to thy ways; And I will bring upon thee all thine abominations. And mine eyes shall not spare thee, Neither will I have pity; Because I will bring thy ways upon thee And thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee: And ye shall know that I am Jehovah. Thus saith the Lord Jehovah! An evil--an only evil!--behold it cometh.[8] An end is come--the end is come! It awaketh against thee. Behold it cometh! O inhabitant of the land, thy doom is come unto thee The set time is come, the day is near, The day of tumult. And not the joyous shouting upon the mountains; Now will I soon pour out my fury upon thee And accomplish mine anger against thee. I will judge thee according to thy ways, And will bring upon thee all thine abominations. Mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity. According to thy ways will I render unto thee, And thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee, And ye shall know that I am Jehovah, who smiteth (chapter vii:1-9). [8] Another rendering is: "Calamity after calamity!" This is the first section of this great and solemn portion of Ezekiel's prophecy. The end is announced to come upon the entire land. The set time for judgment had come, it could no longer be averted. How merciful had been Jehovah's dealing with His beloved people. "But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not; yea many a time turned He His anger away, and did not stir up all His wrath" (Ps. lxxviii:38). But now the measure of their wickedness had come. The day of reckoning was at hand. Divine fury was to sweep now over the entire land. His eyes would no longer spare nor would He pity them any longer.