Ezekiel 9
New Living Translation
The Slaughter of Idolaters
9 Then the Lord thundered, “Bring on the men appointed to punish the city! Tell them to bring their weapons with them!” 2 Six men soon appeared from the upper gate that faces north, each carrying a deadly weapon in his hand. With them was a man dressed in linen, who carried a writer’s case at his side. They all went into the Temple courtyard and stood beside the bronze altar.
3 Then the glory of the God of Israel rose up from between the cherubim, where it had rested, and moved to the entrance of the Temple. And the Lord called to the man dressed in linen who was carrying the writer’s case. 4 He said to him, “Walk through the streets of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of all who weep and sigh because of the detestable sins being committed in their city.”
5 Then I heard the Lord say to the other men, “Follow him through the city and kill everyone whose forehead is not marked. Show no mercy; have no pity! 6 Kill them all—old and young, girls and women and little children. But do not touch anyone with the mark. Begin right here at the Temple.” So they began by killing the seventy leaders.
7 “Defile the Temple!” the Lord commanded. “Fill its courtyards with corpses. Go!” So they went and began killing throughout the city.
8 While they were out killing, I was all alone. I fell face down on the ground and cried out, “O Sovereign Lord! Will your fury against Jerusalem wipe out everyone left in Israel?”
9 Then he said to me, “The sins of the people of Israel and Judah are very, very great. The entire land is full of murder; the city is filled with injustice. They are saying, ‘The Lord doesn’t see it! The Lord has abandoned the land!’ 10 So I will not spare them or have any pity on them. I will fully repay them for all they have done.”
11 Then the man in linen clothing, who carried the writer’s case, reported back and said, “I have done as you commanded.”
Ezekiel 9
English Standard Version
Idolaters Killed
9 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.”
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
