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Idolaters Killed

¹ Then he cried in my ears with a loud voice, saying, "Bring near the executioners of the city, ^(a)each with his destroying weapon in his hand." ² And behold, six men came from the direction of ^(b)the upper gate, which faces north, each with his weapon for slaughter in his hand, and with them was ^(c)a man clothed in linen, with a writing case at his waist. And they went in and stood beside ^(d)the bronze altar.

³ Now ^(e)the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub on which it rested to ^(f)the threshold of the house. And he called to ^(g)the man clothed in linen, who had the writing case at his waist. ⁴ And the Lord said to him, "Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and ^(h)put a mark on the foreheads of the men who ⁽ⁱ⁾sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it." ⁵ And to ^(j)the others he said in my hearing, "Pass through the city after him, and strike. ^(k)Your eye shall not spare, and you shall show no pity. ^6 (l)Kill old men outright, young men and maidens, little children and women, but ^(m)touch no one on whom is the mark. And ⁽ⁿ⁾begin at my sanctuary." So they began with the elders who were before the house. ⁷ Then he said to them, ^(o)"Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain. Go out." So they went out and struck in the city. ⁸ And while they were striking, and I was left alone, ^(p)I fell upon my face, and cried, ^(q)"Ah, Lord God! ^(r)Will you destroy all the remnant of Israel ^(s)in the outpouring of your wrath on Jerusalem?"

⁹ Then he said to me, ^(t)"The guilt of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great. ^(u)The land is full of blood, and the city full of injustice. For ^(v)they say, ‘The Lord has forsaken the land, and the Lord does not see.' ¹⁰ As for me, ^(w)my eye will not spare, nor will I have pity; ^(x)I will bring their deeds upon their heads."

¹¹ And behold, ^(y)the man clothed in linen, with the writing case at his waist, brought back word, saying, "I have done as you commanded me."