1 Then he shouted in my ears with a loud voice: "Draw near, you who are to punish the city, each with his weapon of ruin in his hand!"
2 At that, six men came by way of the upper gate that faces north, each with his shattering weapon in his hand, and with them one man dressed in linen who had a scribe's writing case at his side. They came in and stood next to the bronze altar.
3 The glory of the God of Israel had risen from above the cherub where it had been, up to the threshold of the house. He called to the man dressed in linen with the scribe's writing case at his side,
4 and the LORD told him, "Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations done within it."
5 To the others he said, as I listened, "Pass through the city behind him and strike. Do not let your eye spare, and show no pity.
6 Old man, young man and girl, little ones and women, kill them to the last; but do not touch anyone who has the mark on him. Start at my sanctuary." So they started with the elders who were in front of the house.
7 He said to them, "Defile the house and fill the courts with the slain. Go!" So they went out and struck people down in the city.
8 While they were striking them down and I alone was left, I fell face down and cried out, "Ah, Lord GOD! Will you destroy everyone left of Israel as you pour out your wrath on Jerusalem?"
9 He answered me, "The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is great beyond measure. The land is filled with bloodshed and the city filled with injustice, for they say, 'The LORD has abandoned the land; the LORD does not see.'
10 So my eye too will not spare, and I will show no pity; I will bring their conduct down on their heads."
11 Then the man dressed in linen with the writing case at his side reported back: "I have done just as you commanded me."