1 Then he shouted in my ears, "Come here those who have charge over the city, each one with his weapon of destruction in his hand." 2 Six men came from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each one with his smashing weapon in his hand. One in the midst of them was clothed in linen, with a writer's case by his side. They entered and stood beside the brazen altar. 3 Then the glory of the God of Israel rose from the cherub, where it was by the threshold of the temple. He called to the one clothed in linen, who had the writer's case by his side. 4 And LORD said to him, "Go through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the people who grieve and groan over all the abominations that are done in it." 5 To the others he said in my hearing, "Go through the city after him, and kill; do not let your eye spare or have pity. 6 Wipe out the old men, the young men and girls, and little children and women; but do not touch anyone who has the mark. Begin at my sanctuary." Then they began with the old men who were in front of the temple. 7 Then he said unto them, "Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain. Go out." So they went out slaughtering throughout the city. 8 While they were killing, and I was left alone, I fell upon my face, and cried, "Ah sovereign LORD! Will you destroy all the remnant of Israel when you pour out of your wrath upon Jerusalem?" 9 Then he told me, "The guilt of the house of Israel and Judah is very great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of injustice, for they claim, 'The LORD has abandoned the land, and the LORD does not see.' 10 So as for me, my eye will not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will repay them bringing back their deeds upon their heads." 11 Then the man clothed in linen, who had the writing case by his side, reported the matter, saying, "I have done as you have told me to do."