¹⁶ “But now I will send for many fishermen,” declares the Lord, “and they will catch them.^(A) After that I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt^(B) them down on every mountain and hill and from the crevices of the rocks.^{(C) 17} My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden^(D) from me, nor is their sin concealed from my eyes.^(E)

⁴ and said to him, “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem^(A) and put a mark^(B) on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament^(C) over all the detestable things that are done in it.^(D)”

⁵ As I listened, he said to the others, “Follow him through the city and kill, without showing pity^(E) or compassion.^{(F) 6} Slaughter^(G) the old men, the young men and women, the mothers and children,^(H) but do not touch anyone who has the mark.^(I) Begin at my sanctuary.” So they began with the old men^(J) who were in front of the temple.^(K)

⁷ Then he said to them, “Defile the temple and fill the courts with the slain.^(L) Go!” So they went out and began killing throughout the city. ⁸ While they were killing and I was left alone, I fell facedown,^(M) crying out, “Alas, Sovereign Lord!^(N) Are you going to destroy the entire remnant of Israel in this outpouring of your wrath^(O) on Jerusalem?^(P)”

⁹ He answered me, “The sin of the people of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great; the land is full of bloodshed and the city is full of injustice.^(Q) They say, ‘The Lord has forsaken the land; the Lord does not see.’^{(R) 10} So I will not look on them with pity^(S) or spare them, but I will bring down on their own heads what they have done.^(T)”

¹¹ Then the man in linen with the writing kit at his side brought back word, saying, “I have done as you commanded.”

Israel to Be Destroyed

9 I saw the Lord standing by the altar, and he said: