The Book of the Prophet Ezekiel 9 The Punishments of Jerusalem

 The Book of the Prophet Ezekiel 9

The Punishments of Jerusalem

1 Then he cried out in my ears with a loud voice, saying, “Bring near the overseers of the city, each with his weapon of destruction in his hand.”

2 And behold, six men came from the direction of the upper gate that faces north, each with his weapon of destruction in his hand, and among them was a man clothed in linen, with a scribe’s inkhorn at his side. They went in and stood beside the bronze altar.

3 Then the glory of the God of Israel rose from the cherub upon which it was, to the entrance of the house, and called to the man clothed in linen, who had the scribe’s inkhorn at his side.

4 And the Lord said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.”

5 And to the others he said in my hearing, “Go through the city after him and strike; do not let your eye spare, nor have pity.

6 Kill old men, young men, virgins, little children, and women, until you have exterminated them; but do not come near anyone who has the mark; and begin at my sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the house.

7 And he said to them, “Defile the house and fill the courts with the slain; go out.” So they went out and struck the city.

8 And it came to pass, when they had struck them, and I was left alive, that I fell on my face and cried out, and said, “Ah, Lord God! Will you destroy all the remnant of Israel, pouring out your wrath on Jerusalem?”

9 Then he said to me, “The wickedness of the house of Israel and Judah is very great, and the land is full of bloodshed, and the city is full of wickedness; and they say, ‘The Lord has forsaken the land; the Lord does not see.’

10 Therefore, as for me, my eye will not spare, nor will I have pity; I will bring their own way upon their own heads.”

11 And behold, the man clothed in linen, with the inkhorn at his side, returned with the answer, saying, “I have done as you commanded me.”