1 T hen He cried out in my hearing with a loud voice saying, “Draw near, O executioners of the city, each with his destroying weapon in his hand.”

cried 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.

2 B ehold, six men came from the direction of the upper gate which faces north, each with his shattering weapon in his hand; and among them was a certain man clothed in linen with a writing case at his loins. And they went in and stood beside the bronze altar.

And 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.

3 T hen the glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub on which it had been, to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed in linen at whose loins was the writing case.

And 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.

4 T he Lord said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, even through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst.”

And 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.

5 B ut to the others He said in my hearing, “Go through the city after him and strike; do not let your eye have pity and do not spare.

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

6 U tterly slay old men, young men, maidens, little children, and women, but do not touch any man on whom is the mark; and you shall start from My sanctuary.” So they started with the elders who were before the temple.

Slay 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.

7 A nd He said to them, “ Defile the temple and fill the courts with the slain. Go out!” Thus they went out and struck down the people in the city.

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

8 A s they were striking the people and I alone was left, I fell on my face and cried out saying, “ Alas, Lord God! Are You destroying the whole remnant of Israel by pouring out Your wrath on Jerusalem?”

And 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?

9 T hen He said to me, “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is very, very great, and the land is filled with blood and the city is full of perversion; for they say, ‘The Lord has forsaken the land, and the Lord does not see!’

Then 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.

10 B ut as for Me, My eye will have no pity nor will I spare, but I will bring their conduct upon their heads.”

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

11 T hen behold, the man clothed in linen at whose loins was the writing case reported, saying, “I have done just as You have commanded me.”

And 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.