The Wicked Are Slain
1 Then He called out in my hearing with a loud voice, saying, “Let those who have charge over the city draw near, eachwitha deadly weapon in his hand.”
2 And suddenly six men came from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with his battle-ax in his hand.One man among themwasclothed with linen and had a writer’s inkhorn at his side. They went in and stood beside the bronze altar.
3 Nowthe glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub, where it had been, to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed with linen, whohadthe writer’s inkhorn at his side;
4 and theLordsaid to him, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and puta mark on the foreheads of the menwho sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.”
5 To the others He said in my hearing, “Go after him through the city andkill;do not let your eye spare, nor have any pity.
6 Utterly slay oldandyoung men, maidens and little children and women; butdo not come near anyone on whomisthe mark; andbegin at My sanctuary.”So they began with the elders whowerebefore the temple.
7 Then He said to them, “Defile the temple, and fill the courts with the slain. Go out!” And they went out and killed in the city.
8 So it was, that while they were killing them, I was leftalone;and Ifell on my face and cried out, and said,“Ah, LordGod! Will You destroy all the remnant of Israel in pouring out Your fury on Jerusalem?”
9 Then He said to me, “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judahisexceedingly great, andthe land is full of bloodshed, and the city full of perversity; for they say,‘TheLordhas forsaken the land, andtheLorddoes not see!’
10 And as for Me also, Myeye will neither spare, nor will I have pity,butI will recompense their deeds on their own head.”
11 Just then, the man clothed with linen, whohadthe inkhorn at his side, reported back and said, “I have done as You commanded me.”