Shared Word Translation

Ezekiel 9

Then he called out in my hearing with a loud voice, saying, "Let those who have charge over the city draw near, each with his destructive weapon in his hand."

And behold, six men came from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with his weapon of destruction in his hand. One man among them was clothed in linen, with a writing case at his waist. They went in and stood beside the bronze altar.

Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub on which it rested to the threshold of the house. He called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writing case at his waist, and said to him, "Pass 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 being done in it."

To the others he said in my hearing, "Pass through the city after him and strike. Your eye shall not spare, and you shall show no pity. Kill old men outright, young men and maidens, little children and women, but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark. Begin at my sanctuary." So they began with the elders who were before the house. Then he said to them, "Defile the house and fill the courts with the slain. Go out!" And they went out and struck in the city.

While they were striking, and I was left alone, I fell on my face and cried out, "Ah, Lord GOD! Will you destroy all the remnant of Israel in pouring out your wrath on Jerusalem?"

Then he said to me, "The guilt of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great. The land is filled with blood, and the city full of injustice; for they say, 'the LORD has forsaken the land, and the LORD does not see.' As for me, my eye will not spare, nor will I have pity. I will bring their way upon their heads."

And behold, the man clothed in linen, who had the writing case at his waist, brought word, saying, "I have done as you commanded me."