1 c ried in my ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause those to draw near who have charge over the city, every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.

And He crieth in mine ears -- a loud voice -- saying, `Drawn near have inspectors of the city, and each his destroying weapon in his hand.'

2 A nd behold, six men came from the direction of the Upper Gate, which faces north, every man with his battle-ax in his hand; and one man among them was clothed in linen, with a writer’s ink bottle at his side. And they went in and stood beside the bronze altar.

And lo, six men are coming from the way of the upper gate, that is facing the north, and each his slaughter-weapon in his hand, and one man in their midst is clothed with linen, and a scribe's inkhorn at his loins, and they come in, and stand near the brazen altar.

3 A nd the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherubim upon which it had rested to the threshold of the house. And called to the man clothed with linen, who had the writer’s ink bottle at his side.

And the honour of the God of Israel hath gone up from off the cherub, on which it hath been, unto the threshold of the house.

4 A nd the Lord said to him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in the midst of it.

And He calleth unto the man who is clothed with linen, who hath the scribe's inkhorn at his loins, and Jehovah saith unto him, `Pass on into the midst of the city, into the midst of Jerusalem, and thou hast made a mark on the foreheads of the men who are sighing and who are groaning for all the abominations that are done in its midst.'

5 A nd to the others He said in my hearing, Follow through the city and smite; let not your eye spare, neither have any pity.

And to the others he said in mine ears, `Pass on into the city after him, and smite; your eye doth not pity, nor do ye spare;

6 S lay outright the elderly, the young man and the virgin, the infant and the women; but do not touch or go near anyone on whom is the mark. Begin at My sanctuary. So they began with the old men who were in front of the temple.

aged, young man, and virgin, and infant, and women, ye do slay -- to destruction; and against any man on whom the mark ye do not go nigh, and from My sanctuary ye begin.'

7 A nd He said to, Defile the temple and fill its courts with the slain. Go forth! And they went forth and slew in the city.

And they begin among the aged men who before the house, and He saith unto them, `Defile the house, and fill the courts with the wounded, go forth.' And they have gone forth and have smitten in the city.

8 A nd while they were slaying them and I was left, I fell upon my face and cried, Ah, Lord God! Will You destroy all that is left of Israel in Your pouring out of Your wrath and indignation upon Jerusalem?

And it cometh to pass, as they are smiting, and I -- I am left -- that I fall on my face, and cry, and say, `Ah, Lord Jehovah, art Thou destroying all the remnant of Israel, in Thy pouring out Thy wrath on Jerusalem?'

9 T hen said He to me, The iniquity and guilt of the house of Israel and Judah are exceedingly great; the land is full of blood and the city full of injustice and perverseness; for they say, The Lord has forsaken the land; the Lord does not see.

And He saith unto me, `The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah very very great, and the land is full of blood, and the city hath been full of perverseness, for they have said: Jehovah hath forsaken the land, and Jehovah is not seeing.

10 A nd as for Me, My eye will not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their wicked doings upon their own heads.

And I also, Mine eye doth not pity, nor do I spare; their way on their own head I have put.'

11 A nd behold, the man clothed in linen, who had the ink bottle at his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as You have commanded me.

And lo, the man clothed with linen, at whose loins the inkhorn, is bringing back word, saying, `I have done as Thou hast commanded me.'