1 Then He cried out in my hearing with a loud AIs 6:8voice saying, “Draw near, 1Lit you who punishO executioners of the city, each with his destroying weapon in his hand.” 2 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 ALev 16:4a certain man clothed in linen with a 1Or scribal inkhornwriting case at his loins. And they went in and stood beside the bronze altar.

3 Then the AEzek 10:4; 11:22, 23glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub on which it had been, to the threshold of the 1Lit housetemple. And He called to the man clothed in linen at whose loins was the writing case. 4 The Loʀᴅ said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, even through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a AEx 12:7, 13; Ezek 9:6; 2 Cor 1:22; 2 Tim 2:19; Rev 7:2, 3; 9:4; 14:1mark on the foreheads of the men who BPs 119:53, 136; Jer 13:17; Ezek 6:11; 21:6sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst.” 5 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. 6  “1Lit To destructionUtterly A2 Chr 36:17slay old men, young men, maidens, little children, and women, but do not BEx 12:23; Rev 9:4touch any man on whom is the mark; and you shall CJer 25:29; Amos 3:2; Luke 12:47start from My sanctuary.” So they started with the 2Or old menelders who were before the 3Lit housetemple. 7 And He said to them, “A2 Chr 36:17; Ezek 7:20-22Defile the 1Lit housetemple and fill the courts with the slain. Go out!” Thus they went out and struck down the people in the city. 8 As they were striking the people and I alone was left, I A1 Chr 21:16fell on my face and cried out 1Lit and saidsaying, “BEzek 11:13; Amos 7:2-6Alas, Lord 2Heb YHWH, usually rendered LoʀᴅGoᴅ! Are You destroying the whole remnant of Israel 3Lit by Your pouringby pouring out Your wrath on Jerusalem?”

9 Then He said to me, “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is very, very great, and the land is A2 Kin 21:16; Jer 2:34; Ezek 7:23; 22:2, 3filled with blood and the city is BEzek 22:29; Mic 3:1-3; 7:3full of perversion; for CJob 22:13; Ps 10:11; 94:7; Is 29:15; Ezek 8:12they say, ‘The Loʀᴅ has forsaken the land, and the Loʀᴅ does not see!’ 10  “But as for Me, AIs 65:6; Ezek 8:18; 24:14My eye will have no pity nor will I spare, but BEzek 7:4; 11:21; Hos 9:7I will bring their conduct upon their heads.”

11 Then behold, the man clothed in linen at whose loins was the 1Or inkhornwriting case 2Lit brought back wordreported, saying, “I have done just as You have commanded me.”