1Then I heard the LORD call out in a loud voice. He said, ‘Bring here those who are appointed to bring my judgment on the city. Make sure each of them has a weapon in his hand.’2I saw six men coming from the direction of the upper gate. It faces north. Each of them had a deadly weapon in his hand. A man wearing linen clothes came along with them. He was carrying a writing kit at his side. They came in and stood beside the bronze altar.3The glory of the God of Israel had been above the cherubim. It moved from there to the doorway of the temple. Then the LORD called to the man who was dressed in linen clothes. He had the writing kit.4The LORD said to him, ‘Go all through Jerusalem. Look for those who are sad and sorry about all the things being done there. I hate those things. Put a mark on the foreheads of those people.’5I heard him speak to the six men. He said, ‘Follow him through the city. Do not show any pity or concern.6Kill the old men and women, the young men and women, and the children. But do not touch anyone who has the mark. Start at my temple.’ So they began with the old men who were in front of the temple.7Then he said to the men, ‘Make the temple “unclean”. Fill the courtyards with dead bodies. Go!’ So they went out and started killing people all through the city.8While they were doing it, I was left alone. I fell with my face towards the ground. I cried out, ‘LORD and King, are you going to destroy all the Israelites who are still left alive? Will you pour out your great anger on all those who remain in Jerusalem?’9He answered me, ‘The sin of Israel and Judah is very great. The land is full of murderers. Its people are not being fair to one another anywhere in Jerusalem. They say, “The LORD has deserted the land. He doesn’t see us.”10So I will not spare them or feel sorry for them. Anything that happens to them will be their own fault.’11Then the man wearing linen clothes returned. He had the writing kit. He reported, ‘I’ve done what you commanded.’
Ezekiel 9
English Standard Version
Idolaters Killed
1Then he cried in my ears with a loud voice, saying, “Bring near the executioners of the city, each with his destroying weapon in his hand.” (Eze 43:3)2And behold, six men came from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with his weapon for slaughter in his hand, and with them was a man clothed in linen, with a writing case at his waist. And they went in and stood beside the bronze altar. (2Ki 15:35; Jer 20:2; Eze 8:16; Eze 10:2; Eze 10:6; Da 10:5; Da 12:6)3Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub on which it rested to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writing case at his waist. (Eze 1:28; Eze 9:2; Eze 10:4; Eze 10:18; Eze 46:2; Eze 47:1)4And the Lord said to him, “Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.” (Ex 12:7; Ps 119:53; Ps 119:136; Ps 119:158; Re 3:12; Re 7:3; Re 9:4; Re 13:16; Re 14:1; Re 14:9; Re 20:4; Re 22:4)5And to the others he said in my hearing, “Pass through the city after him, and strike. Your eye shall not spare, and you shall show no pity. (Eze 5:11; Eze 9:2)6Kill old men outright, young men and maidens, little children and women, but touch no one on whom is the mark. And begin at my sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the house. (2Ch 36:17; Jer 25:29; Re 9:4)7Then he said to them, “Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain. Go out.” So they went out and struck in the city. (Eze 7:21)8And while they were striking, and I was left alone, I fell upon my face, and cried, “Ah, Lord God! Will you destroy all the remnant of Israel in the outpouring of your wrath on Jerusalem?” (Nu 14:5; Eze 4:14; Eze 7:8; Eze 11:13)9Then he said to me, “The guilt of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great. The land is full of blood, and the city full of injustice. For they say, ‘The Lord has forsaken the land, and the Lord does not see.’ (2Ch 36:14; Eze 7:23; Eze 8:12)10As for me, my eye will not spare, nor will I have pity; I will bring their deeds upon their heads.” (Eze 5:11; Eze 7:4)11And behold, the man clothed in linen, with the writing case at his waist, brought back word, saying, “I have done as you commanded me.” (Eze 10:2; Eze 10:6; Da 10:5; Da 12:6)