9
1 And he cried in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, The judgement of the city has drawn nigh; and each had the weapons of destruction in his hand.
2 And, behold, six men came from the way of the high gate that looks toward the north, and each one's axe was in his hand; and there was one man in the midst of them clothed with a long robe down to the feet, and a sapphire girdle was on his loins: and they came in and stood near the brazen altar.
3 And the glory of the God of Israel, that was upon them, went up {Alex. on the cherubs} from the cherubs to the porch {See Eze 47} of the house. And he called the man that was clothed with the long robe, who had the girdle on his loins;
4 And said to him, Go through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark on the foreheads of the men that groan and that grieve for all the iniquities that are done in the midst of them.
5 And he said to the first in my hearing, Go after him into the city, and smite: and let not your eyes spare, and have no mercy.
6 Slay {Gr. to abolition} utterly old man and youth, and virgin, and infants, and women: but go ye not nigh any on whom is the mark: begin at my {Or, holy things, or, persons} sanctuary. So they began with the elder men who were within in the house.
7 And he said to them, Defile the house, and go out and fill the ways with dead bodies, and smite.
8 And it came to pass as they were smiting, that I fell upon my face, and cried out, and said, Alas, O Lord! {Gr. art thou destroying} wilt thou destroy the remnant of Israel, in pouring out thy wrath upon Jerusalem?
9 Then said he to me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Juda is become very exceedingly great: for the land is filled with many nations, and the city is filled with iniquity and uncleanness: because they have said, The Lord has forsaken the earth, The Lord looks not upon it.
10 Therefore mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have any mercy: I have recompensed their ways upon their heads.
11 And, behold, the man clothed with the long robe, and girt with the girdle about his loins, answered and said, I have done as thou didst command me.