Ezekiel

He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.

1Then I heard God call out in a loud voice. He said, "Come here, you men who are to punish the city. Each one bring his weapon."

2And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar.

2Then I saw six men come from the direction of the Upper Gate, which faces north. Each one held a weapon for killing. With them was another man dressed in linen. He carried a writing kit at his side. They all came in and stood beside the bronze altar.

NoteA "writer's inkhorn" was a small case for holding ink and pens, worn on a belt. It marked the man as a scribe, someone whose job was writing.

3And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer’s inkhorn by his side;

3The bright glory of the God of Israel rose up from above the winged creatures where it had been resting. It moved to the doorway of the temple. Then God called to the man dressed in linen who carried the writing kit.

NoteThe "cherub" is a winged creature. Ezekiel saw these creatures carrying God's glory in chapters 1 and 10.

4And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.

4The LORD said to him, "Walk through the whole city of Jerusalem. Put a mark on the foreheads of the people who are sad and who cry over all the terrible things being done there."

5And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:

5Then, while I listened, God said to the other men, "Follow him through the city and kill. Do not look on anyone with pity. Do not spare anyone.

6Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.

6Kill the old men, the young men and young women, the women and the children. But do not go near anyone who has the mark. Begin at my temple." So they began with the elders who stood in front of the temple.

NoteThe word the KJV translates "maids" means young unmarried women, not servants.

7And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.

7Then God said to them, "Make the temple unclean. Fill its courtyards with the dead. Now go out." So they went out and killed people all through the city.

8And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?

8While they were killing, I was left there alone. I fell face down on the ground and cried out, "Oh, Lord GOD! When you pour out your anger on Jerusalem, will you destroy everyone left in Israel?"

9Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not.

9He answered me, "The sin of the people of Israel and Judah is very great. The land is full of murder, and the city is full of twisted living. They say, 'The LORD has left the land. The LORD does not see.'

10And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head.

10So I will not look on them with pity, and I will not spare them. I will bring what they have done back down on their own heads."

11And, behold, the man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me.

11Then the man dressed in linen with the writing kit at his side came back and reported. He said, "I have done what you commanded me."