1Then he called out in my ears with a great voice, saying, “Draw near, you executioners of the city, each with his weapon of destruction in his hand.”
2And 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 one man clothed in linen, with a scribe’s writing case at his loins. And they came in and stood beside the bronze altar.
3And the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from over the cherub on which it rested, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the scribe’s writing case at his loins.
4And Yahweh said to him, “Pass through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who groan and moan over all the abominations that are done in her midst.”
5And to the others he said in my hearing, “Pass through the city after him and strike; do not let your eye spare, and show no pity.
6“Old man, young man, and virgin, and little children, and women — kill them to destruction; but do not approach any man on whom is the mark. And begin from my sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the house.
7And he said to them, “Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain. Go out!” And they went out and struck in the city.
8And it happened, while they were striking, that I alone was left; and I fell on my face and cried out and said, “Alas, Lord Yahweh! Are you destroying all the remnant of Israel as you pour out your wrath on Jerusalem?”
9And he said to me, “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great; the land is filled with bloodshed and the city is full of injustice. For they say, ‘Yahweh has forsaken the land, and Yahweh does not see.’
10“And as for me also, my eye will not spare, nor will I show pity; I have brought their way down upon their own head.”
11And behold, the man clothed in linen, who had the writing case at his loins, brought back word, saying, “I have done just as you commanded me.”
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