Ezekiel 9

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

He called out loudly, his voice echoing in my ears, "Bring near those who are to punish the city, each one holding his weapon of destruction."

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

Suddenly, six men appeared from the northern gate, each armed with a deadly weapon. One stood out, dressed in linen, carrying a writer's inkhorn. They moved forward, positioning themselves next to the bronze altar.

And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer’s inkhorn by his side;

The magnificent presence of Israel's God had moved from the cherub to the doorway of the house. He summoned the man dressed in linen, who carried the writer's inkpot.

And the LORD 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 for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.

The Lord instructed him, "Walk through the heart of the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of those men who sigh and groan over all the detestable things being done there."

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

He commanded the others within my hearing, "Follow him throughout the city and strike. Show no mercy, feel no pity."

Slay utterly old and young, both maids, 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 ancient men which were before the house.

Show no mercy, take the lives of the old, the young, women, and even children. But do not harm those marked men. Start this purge from my sanctuary. And so, they began with the elders who were in the house.

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

He commanded them, "Taint the sanctuary, let the fallen fill its halls. Now, go!" So, they left, spreading death throughout the city.

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

As they went on killing the people and I was the only one left, I collapsed, sobbing. I cried out, "Oh Lord, are you really going to wipe out the remaining people of Israel in your anger towards Jerusalem?"

Then 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 perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not.

He told me, "Israel and Judah's sins are overwhelming. The land is soaked in blood, the city is rife with corruption. They believe God has abandoned the earth, that He no longer watches over us."

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

I, too, will show no mercy or pity, but will give them what they deserve.

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

Look, the man dressed in linen, with the inkpot at his side, confirmed with a sense of duty and relief, "I've done as you instructed me."