Then he called out in a loud voice for me to hear, saying, 'Bring near those appointed to punish the city, each carrying his weapon of destruction in his hand.'

He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.

And behold, six men came from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each carrying his weapon for shattering in his hand. One man among them was dressed in linen and had a writing case at his waist. They entered and stood beside the bronze altar.

And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar.

Then the glory of the God of Israel went up from above the cherub, on which it had rested, and moved to the threshold of the temple. And he called to the man dressed in linen, who had the writing case at his waist.

And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side;

The LORD said to him, 'Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and mark a sign on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the detestable things being done within it.'

And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.

To the others, he said in my hearing, 'Pass through the city after him and strike down. Do not let your eye spare, and do not show pity.'

And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:

Old men, young men, virgins, children, and women—kill them all to the point of destruction. But do not go near anyone who has the mark. Begin at my sanctuary.' So they began with the elders who were in front of the temple.

Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.

Then he said to them, 'Defile the temple and fill the courts with the slain. Go out!' So they went out and struck down people in the city.

And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.

As they were striking, I was left alone. I fell face down and cried out, 'Ah, Sovereign LORD! Are you going to destroy the entire remnant of Israel in your outpouring of wrath on Jerusalem?'

And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?

He said to me, 'The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is extremely great. The land is full of bloodshed, and the city is full of injustice. They say, "The LORD has abandoned the land, and the LORD does not see."'

Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not.

'But as for me, my eye will not spare, nor will I show pity. I will bring their actions back upon their own heads.'

And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head.

Then behold, the man dressed in linen, who had the writing case at his waist, came back and gave a report, saying, 'I have done just as you commanded me.'

And, behold, the man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me.