2
Behold, sixmencame from the direction of the uppergatewhichfacesnorth, each with his shatteringweapon in his hand; and among them was a certainmanclothed in linen with a writingcase at his loins. And they went in and stoodbeside the bronzealtar.
3
Then the glory of the God of Israelwent up from the cherub on which it had been, to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the manclothed in linen at whoseloins was the writingcase.
4
The LORDsaid 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 groanoverall the abominations which are being committed in its midst."
6
"Utterlyslayoldmen, youngmen, maidens, littlechildren, and women, but do not touchanyman on whom is the mark; and you shall start from My sanctuary." So they started with the elderswho were before the temple.
8
As they were striking the people and I alone was left, I fell on my face and cried out saying, "Alas, LordGOD! Are You destroying the wholeremnant of Israel by pouring out Your wrath on Jerusalem?"
9
Then He said to me, "The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is very, verygreat, and the land is filled with blood and the city is full of perversion; for they say, 'The LORD has forsaken the land, and the LORD does not see!'