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The Vision of Yahweh’s Wrath

Then He cried out in my hearing with a loud (A)voice saying, “Draw near, [a]O executioners of the city, each with his destroying weapon in his hand.” And behold, six men were coming from the direction of the upper gate which faces north, each with his shattering weapon in his hand; and among them was (B)a certain man clothed in linen with a [b]scribe’s case at his loins. And they went in and stood beside the bronze altar.

Then the (C)glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub on which it had been, to the threshold of the house of Yahweh. And He called to the man clothed in linen at whose loins was the [c]scribe’s case. Yahweh said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, even through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a (D)mark on the foreheads of the men who (E)sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being done in its midst.” But to the others He said in my hearing, “Go through the city after him and strike; do not let your eye have pity and do not spare. (F)Kill to utter destruction old men, chosen men, virgins, little ones, and women, but do not (G)touch any man on whom is the mark; and you shall (H)start from My sanctuary.” So they started with the [d]elders who were before the house. And He said to them, “(I)Defile the house and fill the courts with the slain. Go out!” Thus they went out and struck down the people in the city. Now it happened as they were striking the people and I alone remained, that I (J)fell on my face and cried out and said, “(K)Alas, Lord Yahweh! Are You destroying the whole remnant of Israel [e]by pouring out Your wrath on Jerusalem?”

Then He said to me, “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is very, very great, and the land is (L)filled with bloodshed, and the city is (M)full of perversion; for (N)they say, ‘Yahweh has forsaken the land, and Yahweh does not see!’ 10 But as for Me, (O)My eye will have no pity, nor will I spare, but (P)I will put their way upon their heads.”

11 Then behold, the man clothed in linen at whose loins was the scribe’s [f]case responded with a word, saying, “I have done just as You have commanded me.”

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 9:1 Lit you who punish
  2. Ezekiel 9:2 Or scribal inkhorn
  3. Ezekiel 9:3 Or scribal inkhorn
  4. Ezekiel 9:6 Or old men
  5. Ezekiel 9:8 Lit by Your pouring
  6. Ezekiel 9:11 Or inkhorn

The Wicked Are Slain

Then He called out in my hearing with a loud voice, saying, “Let those who have charge over the city draw near, each with a [a]deadly weapon in his hand.” And suddenly six men came from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with his [b]battle-ax in his hand. (A)One man among them was clothed with linen and had a writer’s inkhorn [c]at his side. They went in and stood beside the bronze altar.

Now (B)the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub, where it had been, to the threshold of the [d]temple. And He called to the man clothed with linen, who had the writer’s inkhorn at his side; and the Lord said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put (C)a mark on the foreheads of the men (D)who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.”

To the others He said in my [e]hearing, “Go after him through the city and (E)kill;[f] (F)do not let your eye spare, nor have any pity. (G)Utterly[g] slay old and young men, maidens and little children and women; but (H)do not come near anyone on whom is the mark; and (I)begin at My sanctuary.” (J)So they began with the elders who were before the [h]temple. Then He said to them, “Defile the [i]temple, and fill the courts with the slain. Go out!” And they went out and killed in the city.

So it was, that while they were killing them, I was left alone; and I (K)fell on my face and cried out, and said, (L)“Ah, Lord God! Will You destroy all the remnant of Israel in pouring out Your fury on Jerusalem?”

Then He said to me, “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great, and (M)the land is full of bloodshed, and the city full of perversity; for they say, (N)‘The Lord has forsaken the land, and (O)the Lord does not see!’ 10 And as for Me also, My (P)eye will neither spare, nor will I have pity, but (Q)I will recompense their deeds on their own head.”

11 Just then, the man clothed with linen, who had the inkhorn at his side, reported back and said, “I have done as You commanded me.”

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 9:1 Or destroying
  2. Ezekiel 9:2 Lit. shattering weapon
  3. Ezekiel 9:2 Lit. upon his loins
  4. Ezekiel 9:3 Lit. house
  5. Ezekiel 9:5 Lit. ears
  6. Ezekiel 9:5 Lit. strike
  7. Ezekiel 9:6 Lit. Slay to destruction
  8. Ezekiel 9:6 Lit. house
  9. Ezekiel 9:7 Lit. house