Chapter 9
1 Then he cried in my ears with a loud voice , saying , " Cause those who are in charge of the city to draw near , each man with his destroying weapon in his hand ."
2 Behold , six men came from the way of the upper gate , which lies towards the north , every man with his slaughter weapon in his hand . One man in the middle of them was clothed in linen, with a writer ’s inkhorn by his side . They went in , and stood beside the bronze altar .
3 The glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub , whereupon it was , to the threshold of the house ; and he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writer ’s inkhorn by his side .
4 The LORD said to him , " Go through the middle of the city , through the middle of Jerusalem , and set a mark on the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry over all the abominations that are done within it ."
5 To the others he said in my hearing, " Go through the city after him , and strike . Don’t let your eye spare , neither have pity .
6 Kill utterly the old man , the young man , the virgin , little children and women ; but don’t come near any man on whom is the mark . Begin at my sanctuary ." Then they began at the old men who were before the house .
7 He said to them , " Defile the house , and fill the courts with the slain . Go out !" They went out , and struck in the city .
8 While they were killing , and I was left , I fell on my face , and cried , and said, "Ah Lord GOD ! Will you destroy all the residue of Israel in your pouring out of your wrath on Jerusalem ?"
9 Then he said to me , " The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great , and the land is full of blood , and the city full of perversion ; for they say , ‘ The LORD has forsaken the land, and the LORD doesn’t see .’
10 As for me also , my eye won’t spare , neither will I have pity , but I will bring their way on their head ."
11 Behold , the man clothed in linen, who had the inkhorn by his side , reported the matter , saying , " I have done as you have commanded me ."