Ezekiel 9

1 Then I heard Yahweh call out loudly, “[You men who are going to punish this city, ] bring here the guards of the city, each carrying a weapon.”

Then cried he in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Draw near ye that have charge of the city, -even every man with his weapon of destruction in his hand.

2 Then I saw six men coming from the north gate of the temple area. Each one was carrying a weapon. With them was a man wearing a white linen robe. [carried] at his side a case containing things to write with. They [all] came into the temple and stood beside the bronze altar.

And lo! six men coming in out of the way of the upper gate which looketh toward the north even every man with his destructive weapon in his hand, and one man in their midst clothed with linen, having a scribe’s ink holder by his side, —so they came in and stood beside the altar of bronze.

3 [Then] the (glory/dazzling light) [that symbolized the presence] of the God of Israel rose up from above the four winged creatures and moved to the entrance of the temple. Then Yahweh called to the man wearing the linen robe,

And the glory of the God of Israel lifted itself up from off the cherub whereon it had been, unto the threshold of the house, —and he called unto the man clothed with linen, who had the scribe’s ink holder by his side.

4 and said to him, “Go throughout Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who are very sad [DOU] because of the detestable things that are being done inside the city.”

Then said Yahweh unto him. Pass along through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, —and set thou a mark upon the foreheads of the men who are sighing and crying over all the abominations that are being done in her midst.

5 While I was listening, he said to the other six men, “Follow the man wearing the white robe, and kill people. Do not pity them or act mercifully toward them.

But unto these, said he in mine ears, Pass along through the city after him and smite, —let not your eye, shield, neither have ye pity:

6 Slaughter old men, young men and women, older women and children, but do not harm any of those who have that mark on their forehead. Start at my temple.” So they began by killing the elders who were [worshiping idols] in front of the temple.

elder, young man and virgin and little ones and women, shall ye slay utterly, but unto any man who hath upon him the mark, do not ye come near, and at my sanctuary, shall ye begin. So they began with the elder men. who were before the house.

7 Then Yahweh said to those men, “Pollute the temple by filling the [with the corpses of those whom] you kill! Start now!” So they went out and starting killing people throughout the city.

And he said unto them Defile ye the house and fill the courts with the slain, —go ye forth! So they went forth and smote in the city.

8 While they were doing that, I was left alone. I prostrated myself on the ground and cried out, “Yahweh my Lord, are you going to get rid of all the people of Israel and Judah who are still alive, while you are severely punishing [MTY] [the people of] Jerusalem?”

And it came to pass, while they were smiting them—I being left remaining, that I fell upon my face and made outcry, and said Alas! My Lord. Yahweh art thou about to destroy all the remnant of Israel, in that thou art pouring out of thine indignation upon Jerusalem?

9 He replied, “The sins of the people [MTY] of Israel and Judah are extremely great. People are murdered [MTY] everywhere [in this country], and this city is full of [people who act] unjustly. They say, ‘Yahweh has abandoned this country, and he does not [what we are doing].’

And he said unto me the iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah, is exceeding, great, and the land is filled with shed blood, and the city is full of over-reaching, —for they have said. Yahweh hath forsaken the land, — and Yahweh doth not see.

10 [So] I will not pity them or act mercifully toward them. I will do to them the evil things that they have done to other people.”

Therefore as for even me, Mine eye shall not shield. Neither will I pity, — Their way upon their own head, have I rendered.

11 Then the man wearing the linen robe returned, saying, “I have done what you commanded me to do.”

And lo! the man clothed in linen, having the ink-holder by his side, bringing back word saying, — I have done according to all which thou didst command me.