Ezekiel 9:1-11

Then I heard the Lord shout loudly for me to hear, “Executioners, draw near! Each bring your weapon of destruction!” Immediately six men advanced from the upper north gate, each one holding a deadly weapon. Also, I saw with them a man clothed in white linen, with a scribe’s case tied to his belt. They came and stood in front of the bronze altar. Then the dazzling glory of the God of Israel rose from above the cherubim where it had been resting and moved toward the threshold of the temple. Then he called to the man dressed in white linen with a scribe’s case at his side, and YAHWEH said to him, “Go throughout Jerusalem, and place a mark on the foreheads of all who grieve and are greatly distressed over all the disgusting things done in the city.” And I heard him say to the other six, “Follow the man in white linen through the city and strike down everyone with no mark on their forehead—old men, young men, girls, children, women—kill them all. Show no mercy, not even one glance of pity. But do not touch anyone with a mark on his forehead. And begin at my sanctuary.” So, they began with those men in front of the temple and with the elders. He said to the executioners, “Go make my temple unfit for worship. Fill its courtyard with corpses. Now get to work.” They departed and began to strike the people throughout the city. While they were slaying, I was left alone in the temple. I threw myself facedown on the ground and cried out, “Oh, Lord YAHWEH, are you really going to wipe out the remnant of Israel by venting your fury on Jerusalem?” He answered me, “The guilt of the people of Israel and Judah is enormous. The land is full of bloodshed, and Jerusalem full of perverted justice. They say, ‘YAHWEH can’t see us! He has abandoned the nation.’ So, I no longer will show them any mercy nor give them one glance of pity. They hereby suffer the consequences of their own behavior.” Just then, the man dressed in white linen with the scribe’s case came back and made his report: “It is finished; I have carried out your orders.”