Then He cried out in my hearing
with a loud
avoice
saying
, "Draw
near
, 1O executioners
of the city
, each
with his destroying
weapon
in his hand
."
Behold, six
men
came
from the direction
of the upper
gate
which
faces
north
, each
with his shattering
weapon
in his hand
; and among
them was aa certain
man
clothed
in linen
with a 1writing
case
at his loins
. And they went
in and stood
beside
the bronze
altar
.
Then the aglory of the God
of Israel
went
up from the cherub
on which
it had been
, to the threshold
of the 1temple
. And He called
to the man
clothed
in linen
at whose
loins
was the writing
case
.
The LORD said
to him, "Go
through the midst
of the city
, even through the midst
of Jerusalem
, and put
a amark
on the foreheads
of the men
who bsigh
and groan
over
all
the abominations
which are being committed
in its midst
."
But to the others He said
in my hearing
, "Go
through the city
after
him and strike
; do not let your eye
have
pity
and do not spare
.
" 1Utterly aslay
old
men
, young
men
, maidens
, little
children
, and women
, but do not btouch
any
man
on whom
is the mark
; and you shall cstart
from My sanctuary
." So they started
with the 2elders
who
were before
the 3temple
.
And He said to them, " aDefile
the 1temple
and fill
the courts
with the slain
. Go
out!" Thus they went
out and struck
down
the people in the city
.
As they were striking the people and I alone was left
, I afell
on my face
and cried
out 1saying
, " bAlas
, Lord
2GOD
! Are You destroying
the whole
remnant
of Israel
3by pouring
out Your wrath
on Jerusalem
?"
Then He said to me, "The iniquity
of the house
of Israel
and Judah
is very
, very
great
, and the land
is afilled
with blood
and the city
is bfull
of perversion
; for cthey say
, `The LORD
has forsaken
the land
, and the LORD
does not see
!'
"But as for Me, aMy eye will have
no
pity
nor
will I spare
, but bI will bring
their conduct
upon their heads
."
Then behold, the man
clothed
in linen
at whose
loins
was the 1writing
case
2reported
, saying
, "I have done
just
as You have commanded
me."