Then I heard Him call out in a loud voice , saying , “ Draw near , O executioners of the city , each (with) a weapon of destruction in hand. ”
And I saw six men coming from the direction of the Upper Gate , which faces north , each with a weapon of slaughter in his hand. With them was another man clothed in linen who had a writing kit ... at his side. And they came in and stood beside the bronze altar.
Then the glory of the God of Israel rose from above the cherubim , where it had been , (and moved) to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed in linen - who had the writing kit ... at his side.
“ Go throughout the city of Jerusalem , ” said the LORD - , “ and put a Mark - on the foreheads of the men sighing and groaning over all the abominations committed there. ”
And as I listened , He said to the others , “ Follow him ... through the city and start killing ; ... do not show pity ... or spare anyone !
Slaughter ... ... the old men , the young men and maidens , the women and children ; but do not go near anyone ... who ... has the Mark -. Now begin at My sanctuary. ” So they began ... with the elders who (were) before the temple.
Then He told them , “ Defile - the temple and fill - the courts with the slain. Go forth ! ” So they went out and began killing throughout the city.
- While they were killing , I was left alone. And I fell facedown ... and cried out , ... “ Oh , Lord GOD , when You pour out - Your wrath on Jerusalem , will You - destroy the entire remnant of Israel ? ”
He replied ... , “ The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah (is) exceedingly ... great. The land is full of bloodshed , and the city is full of perversity. For they say , ‘ The LORD - has forsaken the land ; the LORD does not see. ’
But as for Me , I will not look on them with pity , nor will I spare them. I will bring their deeds down upon their own heads. ”
Then the man clothed in linen - with the writing kit at his side reported back ... ... , “ I have done as You commanded. ”