Ezekiel 9

1Then he cried in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause ye them that have charge over the city to draw near, every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.

1Then I heard him shout in a loud voice, 'Bring the executioners of the city forward, each with a weapon of destruction in his hand!'

2And behold, six men came from the way of the upper gate, which lieth toward the north, every man with his slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man in the midst of them clothed in linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side. And they went in, and stood beside the brazen altar.

2Suddenly, six men came from the direction of the upper gate that faces north, each holding a deadly weapon. Among them was a man dressed in linen with a writing kit at his waist. They came in and stood beside the bronze altar.

3And the glory of the God of Israel was gone 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.

3The glory of the God of Israel rose from above the cherubim where it had been and moved to the entrance of the Temple. Then the Lord called to the man dressed in linen who had the writing kit at his waist.

4And Jehovah said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry over all the abominations that are done in the midst thereof.

4The Lord said to him, 'Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of the people who groan and complain about all the disgusting things being done in the city.'

5And to the others he said in my hearing, Go ye through the city after him, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity;

5I heard him say to the other men, 'Follow him through the city and kill. Do not show any mercy or feel any pity.

6slay utterly the old man, the young man and the virgin, and little children and women; but come not near any man upon whom is the mark: and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the old men that were before the house.

6Kill everyone—old men, young men, young women, mothers, and little children. But do not touch anyone who has the mark. Start right here at my Temple.' So they began by killing the elders who were in front of the Temple.

7And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and smote in the city.

7He told them, 'Defile the Temple and fill its courtyards with the dead. Go!' So they went out and began killing people throughout the city.

8And it came to pass, while they were smiting, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord Jehovah! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy wrath upon Jerusalem?

8While they were killing people, I was left alone. I fell face down and cried out, 'O Sovereign Lord! Are you going to destroy everyone left in Israel as you pour out your anger on Jerusalem?'

9Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of wresting of judgment: for they say, Jehovah hath forsaken the land, and Jehovah seeth not.

9He answered me, 'The sin of the people of Israel and Judah is massive. The land is filled with murder and the city is full of injustice. They say, "The Lord has abandoned the land; the Lord doesn't see us."

10And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will bring their way upon their head.

10Therefore, I will show no mercy and have no pity. I will bring down on their own heads exactly what they have done.'

11And, behold, the man clothed in linen, who had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me.

11Then the man in linen with the writing kit at his waist came back and reported, 'I have done everything you commanded me to do.'