He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them athat have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand. 2 And, behold, six bmen came from the way of cthe higher gate, †dwhich lieth toward the north, and every man †a slaughter weapon in his hand; and fone man among them was gclothed with linen, gwith a writer’s inkhorn †by his side: and they went in, and stood beside hthe brasen altar. 3 And ithe glory of the God of Israel kwas gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to lthe threshold of the house. And he called to fthe man gclothed with linen, which had the writer’s inkhorn by his side; 4 And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and †oset a mark upon pthe foreheads of the men qthat sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.

5 And to qqthe others he said in †mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: rlet not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: 6 sSlay †utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but tcome not near any man upon whom is nthe mark; and ubegin at my sanctuary. Then they began at vthe ancient men which were before the house. 7 And he said unto them, wDefile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.

8 And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, xthat yI fell upon my face, and cried, and said, zAh Lord God! xwilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel ain thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem? 9 Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and bthe land is †full of blood, and the city full of ||perverseness: for they say, cThe Lord hath forsaken the earth, and dthe Lord seeth not. 10 And as for me also, drmine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but eI will recompense their way upon their head. 11 And, behold, fgthe man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, †reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me.