Then in my vision I heard Him cry out with a thunderous ^avoice, saying, “Approach now, executioners of the city, each with his weapon of destruction in his hand.” 2 Behold, six men angelic beings came from the direction of the Upper Gate, which faces north, each with his battle-axe in his hand; and among them was a ^1acertain man clothed in linen, with a scribe’s writing case at his side. They entered and stood beside the bronze altar.

3 Then the ¹Shekinah ^aglory and brilliance of the God of Israel (the cloud) ²went up from the cherubim on which it had rested, to stand above the threshold of the LORD’S temple. And the LORD called to the man clothed with linen, who had the scribe’s writing case at his side. 4 The LORD said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, throughout all of Jerusalem, and put a ^amark on the foreheads of the men who ^bsigh in distress and grieve over all the repulsive acts which are being committed in it.” 5 But to the others I heard Him say, “Follow him the man with the scribe’s writing case throughout the city and strike; do not let your eyes have pity and do not spare anyone. 6 ^aUtterly slay old men, young men, maidens, little children, and women; but do not ^btouch or go near anyone on whom is the mark. ^cBegin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the old men who were in front of the temple who did not have the LORD’S mark on their foreheads. 1+@Pet 4:17 7 And He said to the executioners, “^aDefile the temple and fill its courtyards with the dead. Go out!” So they went out and struck down the people in the city. 8 As they were executing them and I alone was left, I ^afell face downward and cried out, “^bAlas, Lord GOD! Will You destroy all that is left of Israel the whole remnant by pouring out Your wrath and indignation on Jerusalem?”

9 Then He said to me, “The wickedness (guilt) of the house of Israel and Judah is extremely great; the land is ^afull of blood and the city is ^bfull of perversion and injustice; for ^cthey say, ‘The LORD has abandoned the land; the LORD does not see what we are doing.’ 10 But as for Me, ^aMy eye will have no pity, nor will I spare, but ^bI will bring their wicked conduct upon their own heads.”

11 Then behold, the man clothed in linen, who had the scribe’s writing case at his side, reported, “I have done just as You have commanded me.”

Then He cried out in my ¹presence with a loud ^avoice, saying, “Come forward, you ²executioners of the city, each with his weapon of destruction in his hand.” 2 And behold, six men came from the direction of the upper gate which faces north, each with his smashing weapon in his hand; and among them was ^aone man clothed in linen with a scribe’s kit at his waist. And they came in and stood beside the bronze altar.

3 Then the ^aglory of the God of Israel ascended from the cherub on which it had been, to the threshold of the ¹temple. And He called to the man clothed in linen at whose waist was the scribe’s kit. 4 And the LORD said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and make a ^amark on the foreheads of the people who ^bgroan and sigh over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst.” 5 But to the others He said in my ¹presence, “Go through the city after him and strike; do not let your eye have pity and do not spare. 6 ¹Utterly ^akill old men, young men, female virgins, little children, and women, but do not ^btouch any person on whom is the mark; and you shall ^cstart from My sanctuary.” So they started with the ²elders who were before the ³temple. 7 He also said to them, “^aDefile the ¹temple and fill the courtyards with the dead. Go out!” So they went out and struck and killed the people in the city. 8 And as they were striking the people and I alone was left, I ^afell on my face and cried out, ¹saying, “^bOh, Lord ²GOD! Are You going to destroy the entire remnant of Israel ³by pouring out Your wrath on Jerusalem?”

9 Then He said to me, “The guilt of the house of Israel and Judah is very, very great, and the land is ^afilled with blood, and the city is ^bfull of perversion; for ^cthey say, ‘The LORD has abandoned the land, and the LORD does not see!’ 10 But as for Me, ^aMy eye will have no pity nor will I spare, but ^bI will bring their conduct upon their heads.”

11 Then behold, the man clothed in linen, at whose waist was the scribe’s kit, ¹reported, saying, “I have done just as You have commanded me.”