Yahweh’s Avenging Messenger Destroys the Wicked in the City

9 And he called in my ears with a loud voice, saying,[fn] “They have come near,[fn] 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[fn] that faced northward,[fn] and each with his weapon for[fn] shattering in his hand; and one man was in the midst of them, dressed in linen, and the[fn] 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[fn] and went to the threshold of the house,[fn] and he called to the man who was clothed in linen with a scribal writing case at his side.[fn] 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[fn] about all of the detestable things that are being done[fn] 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[fn] old man, young man and young woman, and little children and women, but concerning[fn] every man with the mark on him[fn] you must not approach; and from my sanctuary you must begin.” And they began with the old men who were before[fn] the house.[fn] 7 And he said to them, “Defile the house[fn] and fill the courtyards with the dead; go out! And they went out, and they killed in the city. 8 And then[fn] as they were striking,[fn] 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[fn] on Jerusalem?” 9 And he said to me, “The guilt of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly[fn] 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.[fn] 10 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[fn] was bringing back a word, saying,[fn] “I have done all that you commanded me.”