Idolaters Killed
1
Then he cried in my ears with a loud voice, saying, "Bring near the executioners of the city, 1each with his destroying weapon in his hand."
2
And behold, six men came from the direction of 2the upper gate, which faces north, each with his weapon for slaughter in his hand, and with them was 3a man clothed in linen, with a writing case at his waist. And they went in and stood beside 4the bronze altar.
3
Now 5the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub on which it rested to 6the threshold of the house. And he called to 7the man clothed in linen, who had the writing case at his waist.
4
And the LORD said to him, "Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and 8put a mark on the foreheads of the men who 9sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it."
5
And to 10the others he said in my hearing, "Pass through the city after him, and strike. 11Your eye shall not spare, and you shall show no pity.
6
12Kill old men outright, young men and maidens, little children and women, but 13touch no one on whom is the mark. And 14begin at my sanctuary." So they began with the elders who were before the house.
7
Then he said to them, 15"Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain. Go out." So they went out and struck in the city.
8
And while they were striking, and I was left alone, 16I fell upon my face, and cried, 17"Ah, Lord GOD! 18Will you destroy all the remnant of Israel 19in the outpouring of your wrath on Jerusalem?"
9
Then he said to me, 20"The guilt of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great. 21The land is full of blood, and the city full of injustice. For 22they say, 'The LORD has forsaken the land, and the LORD does not see.'
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)