1 And he called in my ears with a loud voice, saying,*Literally "to say" "They have come near,*Or "Come near" (imperative) the punishers of the city, and each with his weapon of destruction in his hand. 2 And look! Six men coming from the way of the upper gate*Literally "the gate of the upper" that faced northward,*Literally "faced north + directive" and each with his weapon for*Or "of" shattering in his hand; and one man was in the midst of them, dressed in linen, and the*Or "his" writing case of the scribe was at his side. And they came and stood beside the bronze altar. 3 And the glory of the God of Israel lifted itself up from upon the cherub that he was on*Hebrew "which he was on it" and went to the threshold of the house,*That is, the temple and he called to the man who was clothed in linen with a scribal writing case at his side.*Literally "whom a writing case of a scribe was at his side"4 And Yahweh said to him, "Go through in the midst of the city, in the midst of Jerusalem, and you must place a mark on the foreheads of the men who are groaning and lamenting*Literally "the men the groaning and the lamenting" about all of the detestable things that are being done*Literally "the being done" in the midst of her." 5 And to the others he said in my hearing, "Go through the city behind him and kill! Your eyes shall not take pity, and you shall not have compassion. 6 You must kill totally*Literally "to destruction" old man, young man and young woman, and little children and women, but concerning*Literally "upon" every man with the mark on him*Literally "which is on him the mark" you must not approach; and from my sanctuary you must begin." And they began with the old men who were before*Literally "were to the face of" the house.*That is, the temple7 And he said to them, "Defile the house*Or "temple" and fill the courtyards with the dead; go out! And they went out, and they killed in the city. 8 And then*Literally "and it was" as they were striking,*Literally "in their striking" and I was left behind, I fell on my face, and I cried out, and I said, "Ah, Lord Yahweh! "Will you be destroying all of the remnant of Israel while you pour out your rage*Literally "when pouring out your rage" on Jerusalem?" 9 And he said to me, "The guilt of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly*Literally "with very very" great, and the land is filled with bloodguilt, and the city is full of injustice. For they say Yahweh abandoned the land, and Yahweh does not see.*Literally "not Yahweh is seeing10 And I, my eye will not take pity, and I will not have compassion; their way I will bring on their head." 11 And look! The man clothed in linen and with a writing case at his side*Literally "which/whom the writing-case was at his side" was bringing back a word, saying,*Literally "to say" "I have done all that you commanded me."