Psalm 47^[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

Ezekiel’s Inaugural Vision

1 In my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles^(A) by the Kebar River,^(B) the heavens were opened^(C) and I saw visions^(D) of God.

² On the fifth of the month—it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin^(E)— ³ the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel^(F) the priest, the son of Buzi, by the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians.^[a] There the hand of the Lord was on him.^(G)

⁴ I looked, and I saw a windstorm^(H) coming out of the north^(I)—an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal,^{(J) 5} and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures.^(K) In appearance their form was human,^{(L) 6} but each of them had four faces^(M) and four wings. ⁷ Their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished bronze.^{(N) 8} Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands.^(O) All four of them had faces and wings, ⁹ and the wings of one touched the wings of another. Each one went straight ahead; they did not turn as they moved.^(P)

¹⁰ Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a human being, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle.^{(Q) 11} Such were their faces. They each had two wings^(R) spreading out upward, each wing touching that of the creature on either side; and each had two other wings covering its body. ¹² Each one went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went.^{(S) 13} The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals^(T) of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightning^(U) flashed out of it. ¹⁴ The creatures sped back and forth like flashes of lightning.^(V)

²⁴ When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushing^(A) waters, like the voice^(B) of the Almighty,^[a] like the tumult of an army.^(C) When they stood still, they lowered their wings.

²⁵ Then there came a voice from above the vault over their heads as they stood with lowered wings. ²⁶ Above the vault over their heads was what looked like a throne^(D) of lapis lazuli,^(E) and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man.^{(F) 27} I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him.^{(G) 28} Like the appearance of a rainbow^(H) in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.^(I)

This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory^(J) of the Lord. When I saw it, I fell facedown,^(K) and I heard the voice of one speaking.

Jesus Made Fully Human

⁵ It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. ⁶ But there is a place where someone^(A) has testified:

In putting everything under them,^[d] God left nothing that is not subject to them.^[e] Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them.^{[f] 9} But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor^(D) because he suffered death,^(E) so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.^(F)

¹⁰ In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists,^(G) should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.^{(H) 11} Both the one who makes people holy^(I) and those who are made holy^(J) are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.^{[g](K) 12} He says,

¹³ And again,

And again he says,

¹⁴ Since the children have flesh and blood,^(O) he too shared in their humanity^(P) so that by his death he might break the power^(Q) of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil^(R)— ¹⁵ and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear^(S) of death. ¹⁶ For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants.^{(T) 17} For this reason he had to be made like them,^[k](U) fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful^(V) and faithful high priest^(W) in service to God,^(X) and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.^{(Y) 18} Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.^(Z)

The Great Commission

¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.^{(A) 17} When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.^{(B) 19} Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,^(C) baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,^{(D) 20} and teaching^(E) them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you^(F) always, to the very end of the age.”^(G)