Ezekiel:9

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* God shouted with a loud voice : »Come here , you men who are going to punish the city . Bring your weapons with you !« * Six men came from the direction of the upper gate that faces north . Each had his shattering weapon in his hand . Among them was a certain man clothed in linen with a writing case at his side . They went in and stood beside the copper altar . * Then the dazzling light of the presence of the God of Israel rose up from the winged creatures where it had been . It moved to the entrance of the Temple . Jehovah called to the man dressed in linen : * »Go through the whole city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the forehead of everyone who is distressed and troubled because of all the disgusting things being done in the city .« * I heard God say to the other men : »Follow him through the city and kill . Spare no one ! Have mercy on no one . * »Kill the old men , young men , young women , mothers , and children . But do not touch anyone who has the mark on his forehead . Start here at my Temple .« So they began with the elders who were standing there at the Temple . * He said to them : »Dishonor the Temple ! Fill its courtyards with dead people , and then leave .« So they went out and killed the people in the city . * While they were killing people , I was left alone . So I immediately bowed down . I cried : »Help me O Lord Jehovah . Will you destroy everyone who is left in Israel while you pour out your anger on Jerusalem ?« * He answered me : »The wickedness of the nations of Israel and Judah is terrible ! The land is filled with murder , and the city is filled with wrongdoing . They think that Jehovah has abandoned the land and that he does not see . * »But I will not have compassion or feel sorry . I will do to them what they have done to others .« * Then the person dressed in linen who was carrying the writing case reported : »I did everything you commanded .«

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