¹⁸ and the weight of the refined gold for the altar of incense.^(A) He also gave him the plan for the chariot,^(B) that is, the cherubim of gold that spread their wings and overshadow^(C) the ark of the covenant of the Lord.

¹⁸ And make two cherubim^(A) out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. ¹⁹ Make one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; make the cherubim of one piece with the cover, at the two ends. ²⁰ The cherubim^(B) are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing^(C) the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover. ²¹ Place the cover on top of the ark^(D) and put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law^(E) that I will give you. ²² There, above the cover between the two cherubim^(F) that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet^(G) with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.^(H)

The Altar of Incense^(A)

30 “Make an altar^(B) of acacia wood for burning incense.^{(C) 2} It is to be square, a cubit long and a cubit wide, and two cubits high^[a]—its horns^(D) of one piece with it. ³ Overlay the top and all the sides and the horns with pure gold, and make a gold molding around it.^{(E) 4} Make two gold rings^(F) for the altar below the molding—two on each of the opposite sides—to hold the poles used to carry it. ⁵ Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.^{(G) 6} Put the altar in front of the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law—before the atonement cover^(H) that is over the tablets of the covenant law—where I will meet with you.

⁷ “Aaron must burn fragrant incense^(I) on the altar every morning when he tends the lamps. ⁸ He must burn incense again when he lights the lamps at twilight so incense will burn regularly before the Lord for the generations to come.^{(J) 9} Do not offer on this altar any other incense^(K) or any burnt offering or grain offering, and do not pour a drink offering on it. ¹⁰ Once a year^(L) Aaron shall make atonement^(M) on its horns. This annual atonement must be made with the blood of the atoning sin offering^[b](N) for the generations to come.^(O) It is most holy to the Lord.”

⁵ Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory,^(A) overshadowing the atonement cover.^(B) But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

² The Lord said to the man clothed in linen,^(A) “Go in among the wheels^(B) beneath the cherubim. Fill^(C) your hands with burning coals^(D) from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city.” And as I watched, he went in.

³ Now the cherubim were standing on the south side of the temple when the man went in, and a cloud filled the inner court. ⁴ Then the glory of the Lord^(E) rose from above the cherubim and moved to the threshold of the temple. The cloud filled the temple, and the court was full of the radiance of the glory of the Lord. ⁵ The sound of the wings of the cherubim could be heard as far away as the outer court, like the voice^(F) of God Almighty^[a] when he speaks.^(G)

⁶ When the Lord commanded the man in linen, “Take fire from among the wheels,^(H) from among the cherubim,” the man went in and stood beside a wheel. ⁷ Then one of the cherubim reached out his hand to the fire^(I) that was among them. He took up some of it and put it into the hands of the man in linen, who took it and went out. ⁸ (Under the wings of the cherubim could be seen what looked like human hands.)^(J)

⁹ I looked, and I saw beside the cherubim four wheels, one beside each of the cherubim; the wheels sparkled like topaz.^{(K) 10} As for their appearance, the four of them looked alike; each was like a wheel intersecting a wheel. ¹¹ As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the cherubim faced; the wheels did not turn about^[b] as the cherubim went. The cherubim went in whatever direction the head faced, without turning as they went. ¹² Their entire bodies, including their backs, their hands and their wings, were completely full of eyes,^(L) as were their four wheels.^{(M) 13} I heard the wheels being called “the whirling wheels.” ¹⁴ Each of the cherubim^(N) had four faces:^(O) One face was that of a cherub, the second the face of a human being, the third the face of a lion,^(P) and the fourth the face of an eagle.^(Q)

¹⁵ Then the cherubim rose upward. These were the living creatures^(R) I had seen by the Kebar River.^{(S) 16} When the cherubim moved, the wheels beside them moved; and when the cherubim spread their wings to rise from the ground, the wheels did not leave their side. ¹⁷ When the cherubim stood still, they also stood still; and when the cherubim rose, they rose with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in them.^(T)

¹⁸ Then the glory^(U) of the Lord departed from over the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim.^{(V) 19} While I watched, the cherubim spread their wings and rose from the ground, and as they went, the wheels went with them.^(W) They stopped at the entrance of the east gate of the Lord’s house, and the glory^(X) of the God of Israel was above them.

²⁰ These were the living creatures I had seen beneath the God of Israel by the Kebar River,^(Y) and I realized that they were cherubim. ²¹ Each had four faces^(Z) and four wings,^(AA) and under their wings was what looked like human hands. ²² Their faces had the same appearance as those I had seen by the Kebar River.^(AB) Each one went straight ahead.

¹⁵ As I looked at the living creatures,^(A) I saw a wheel^(B) on the ground beside each creature with its four faces. ¹⁶ This was the appearance and structure of the wheels: They sparkled like topaz,^(C) and all four looked alike. Each appeared to be made like a wheel intersecting a wheel. ¹⁷ As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the creatures faced; the wheels did not change direction^(D) as the creatures went. ¹⁸ Their rims were high and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyes^(E) all around.

¹⁹ When the living creatures moved, the wheels beside them moved; and when the living creatures rose from the ground, the wheels also rose. ²⁰ Wherever the spirit would go, they would go,^(F) and the wheels would rise along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. ²¹ When the creatures moved, they also moved; when the creatures stood still, they also stood still; and when the creatures rose from the ground, the wheels rose along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.^(G)

²² Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was what looked something like a vault,^(H) sparkling like crystal, and awesome. ²³ Under the vault their wings were stretched out one toward the other, and each had two wings covering its body. ²⁴ When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushing^(I) waters, like the voice^(J) of the Almighty,^[a] like the tumult of an army.^(K) When they stood still, they lowered their wings.

Psalm 99

Psalm 80^[a]

For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.” Of Asaph. A psalm.