The Vision of Yahweh’s Wrath

1Then He cried out in my hearing with a loud voice saying, “Draw near, [†]O executioners of the city, each with his destroying weapon in his hand.” 2And 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 a certain man clothed in linen with a [†]scribe’s case at his loins. And they went in and stood beside the bronze altar.

3Then the 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 [†]scribe’s case. 4Yahweh said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, even through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being done in its midst.” 5But 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. 6Kill to utter destruction old men, chosen men, virgins, little ones, and women, but do not touch any man on whom is the mark; and you shall start from My sanctuary.” So they started with the [†]elders who were before the house. 7And He said to them, “Defile the house and fill the courts with the slain. Go out!” Thus they went out and struck down the people in the city. 8Now it happened as they were striking the people and I alone remained, that I fell on my face and cried out and said, “Alas, Lord Yahweh! Are You destroying the whole remnant of Israel [†]by pouring out Your wrath on Jerusalem?”

9Then He said to me, “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is very, very great, and the land is filled with bloodshed, and the city is full of perversion; for they say, ‘Yahweh has forsaken the land, and Yahweh does not see!’ 10But as for Me, My eye will have no pity, nor will I spare, but I will put their way upon their heads.”

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