Ezekiel 9

1THEN in my hearing He cried with a loud voice and said, The punishment of this city is at hand, and every one hath in his hand the instruments of the destruction.

2Thereupon behold there came from the way of the high gate, which faceth the north, six men, every one with his battle axe in his hand; and in the midst of them a man clothed in a long robe and a girdle of sapphire about his loins. And when they came close to the brazen altar,

3the glory of the God of Israel which was upon the cherubims ascended from them and came to the open part of the house and called the man who was clothed with the long robe and who had a girdle about his loins,

4and said to him, Go through the midst of Jerusalem and put a mark on the forehead of those men who are sighing and sorrowing for all the transgressions which are committed among them;

5and to the others He said in my hearing, Go ye after him into the city and smite and spare not with your eyes nor shew compassion.

6Destroy utterly old men and young, virgins and infants and married women; but go not near any of those who have the mark on them. Begin at My sanctuary. So they began with the men the elders who were in the house.

7And He said to them, Defile this house and fill the ways with dead as you are going out and continue the slaughter.

8And while they were slaying them I fell on my face and cried aloud and said, Ah! Lord! art Thou utterly destroying the remnant of Israel by pouring out Thy wrath on Jerusalem?

9Whereupon He said to me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Juda is exceeding great. Because the land is filled with many peoples and the city is filled with iniquity and impurity-and because they said, the Lord hath forsaken this land; the Lord doth not see;

10therefore Mine eye shall not spare nor will I have compassion. I have requited their ways upon their heads.

11Then, lo! the man who was clothed with the long robe and girded about the loins with the girdle came and made report, saying, I have done as Thou orderedst me.