2 And suddenly six men came from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with his 2battle-ax in his hand. aOne man among them was clothed with linen and had a writer’s inkhorn 3at his side. They went in and stood beside the bronze altar.

3 Now bthe glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub, where it had been, to the threshold of the 4temple. And He called to the man clothed with linen, who had the writer’s inkhorn at his side; 4 and the Lord said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put ca mark on the foreheads of the men dwho sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.”

5 To the others He said in my 5hearing, “Go after him through the city and ekill; 6 fdo not let your eye spare, nor have any pity. 6 gUtterly 7slay old and young men, maidens and little children and women; but hdo not come near anyone on whom is the mark; and ibegin at My sanctuary.” jSo they began with the elders who were before the 8temple. 7 Then He said to them, “Defile the 9temple, and fill the courts with the slain. Go out!” And they went out and killed in the city.

8 So it was, that while they were killing them, I was left alone; and I kfell on my face and cried out, and said, l“Ah, Lord God! Will You destroy all the remnant of Israel in pouring out Your fury on Jerusalem?”

9 Then He said to me, “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great, and mthe land is full of bloodshed, and the city full of perversity; for they say, n‘The Lord has forsaken the land, and othe Lord does not see!’ 10 And as for Me also, My peye will neither spare, nor will I have pity, but qI will recompense their deeds on their own head.”

11 Just then, the man clothed with linen, who had the inkhorn at his side, reported back and said, “I have done as You commanded me.”