Ezekiel 9

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 .

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 a man clothed in linen , with a writing case at his waist . And they went in and stood beside the bronze altar .

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 .

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 .

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 .

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 .

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 .

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 ?

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 .

¹⁰As for me , my eye will not spare , nor will I have pity ; I will bring their deeds upon their heads .

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.