Ezekiel

9 And he proceeded to call out in my ears with a loud voice, saying: “HAVE those giving their attention to the city come near, each one with his weapon in his hand for bringing ruin!”

2 And, look! there were six men* coming from the direction of the upper+ gate that faces to the north, each one with his weapon for smashing in his hand; and there was one man* in among them clothed with linen,+ with a secretary’s inkhorn* at his hips, and they proceeded to come in and stand beside the copper altar.+

3 And as regards the glory of the God* of Israel,+ it was taken up from over the cherubs*+ over which it happened to be to the threshold of the house,+ and he began calling out to the man* that was clothed with the linen,+ at whose hips there was the secretary’s inkhorn. 4 And Jehovah went on to say to him: “Pass through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and you must put a mark* on the foreheads of the men that are sighing and groaning+ over all the detestable things that are being done in the midst of it.”+

5 And to these [others] he said in my ears: “Pass through the city after him and strike. Let not your eye feel sorry, and do not feel any compassion.+ 6 Old man, young man and virgin and little child and women+ YOU should kill off—to a ruination. But to any man upon whom there is the mark do not go near,+ and from my sanctuary YOU should start.”+ So they started with the old men* that were before the house.+ 7 And he said further to them: “Defile the house and fill the courtyards with the slain ones.+ Go forth!” And they went forth and struck in the city.

8 And it came about that, while they were striking and I was left remaining, I proceeded to fall upon my face+ and cry out and say: “Alas,+ O Sovereign Lord Jehovah! Are you bringing to ruin all the remaining ones of Israel while you are pouring out your rage upon Jerusalem?”+

9 So he said to me: “The error of the house of Israel and Judah+ is very, very great,+ and the land is filled with bloodshed*+ and the city is full of crookedness;+ for they have said, ‘Jehovah has left the land,*+ and Jehovah is not seeing.’*+ 10 And as for me also, my eye will not feel sorry,+ neither shall I show compassion.+ Their way I shall certainly bring upon their own head.”+

11 And, look! the man* clothed with the linen, at whose hips there was the inkhorn,* was bringing back word, saying: “I have done just as you have commanded me.”+