Ezekiel 9

1 He cried loudly in my hearing, 1 “The city’s vengeance has drawn near!” And each one had his weapon of destruction in his hand. 2 Then six men came from the direction of the upper gate that faces north, each carrying an axe. Among them was a man dressed in a full-length robe, with a sapphire sash around his waist. They entered and stood near the bronze altar. 3 The glory of the God of Israel rose from above the cherubim and moved to the temple’s porch. Then he called to the man dressed in the full-length robe, who wore the sash around his waist. 4 He told him, 4 “Go through Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of everyone who groans and grieves over all the lawless deeds committed in the city.” † † 5 In my hearing he told the others, 5 “Follow him through the city and strike. Do not let your eyes spare anyone, and show no mercy.” 6 “Kill old men, young men, young women, infants, and women. But do not go near anyone who bears the mark. Begin at my holy place.” 6 So they began with the elders inside the temple. 7 He told them, 7 “Defile the temple, fill the streets with the dead, and go out and strike.” 8 As they were striking the people, I fell facedown and cried out, 8 “Alas, Lord! Will you wipe out Israel’s survivors as you pour out your wrath on Jerusalem?” 9 He answered me, 9 “The wrongdoing of the house of Israel and Judah has become exceedingly great. The land is filled with many peoples, and the city is filled with wrongdoing and uncleanness. They say, ‘The Lord has abandoned the land; the Lord does not see.’” 10 “Therefore my eye will not spare them, and I will show no mercy. I have brought their conduct back on their own heads.” 11 Then the man dressed in the full-length robe, who wore the sash around his waist, reported, 11 “I have done what you commanded me.”