3 So when we could stand it no longer,^(A) we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens.^{(B) 2} We sent Timothy,^(C) who is our brother and co-worker^(D) in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ,^(E) to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, ³ so that no one would be unsettled by these trials.^(F) For you know quite well that we are destined for them.^{(G) 4} In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know.^{(H) 5} For this reason, when I could stand it no longer,^(I) I sent to find out about your faith.^(J) I was afraid that in some way the tempter^(K) had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain.^(L)

Timothy’s Encouraging Report

⁶ But Timothy^(M) has just now come to us from you^(N) and has brought good news about your faith and love.^(O) He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you.^{(P) 7} Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. ⁸ For now we really live, since you are standing firm^(Q) in the Lord. ⁹ How can we thank God enough for you^(R) in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?^{(S) 10} Night and day we pray^(T) most earnestly that we may see you again^(U) and supply what is lacking in your faith.

¹¹ Now may our God and Father^(V) himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. ¹² May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other^(W) and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. ¹³ May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless^(X) and holy in the presence of our God and Father^(Y) when our Lord Jesus comes^(Z) with all his holy ones.^(AA)

Ezekiel’s Inaugural Vision

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

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

⁴ I looked, and I saw a windstorm^(CK) coming out of the north^(CL)—an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal,^{(CM) 5} and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures.^(CN) In appearance their form was human,^{(CO) 6} but each of them had four faces^(CP) and four wings. ⁷ Their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished bronze.^{(CQ) 8} Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands.^(CR) 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.^(CS)

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.^{(CT) 11} Such were their faces. They each had two wings^(CU) 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.^{(CV) 13} The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals^(CW) of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightning^(CX) flashed out of it. ¹⁴ The creatures sped back and forth like flashes of lightning.^(CY)

¹⁵ As I looked at the living creatures,^(CZ) I saw a wheel^(DA) on the ground beside each creature with its four faces. ¹⁶ This was the appearance and structure of the wheels: They sparkled like topaz,^(DB) 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^(DC) as the creatures went. ¹⁸ Their rims were high and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyes^(DD) 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,^(DE) 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.^(DF)

²² Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was what looked something like a vault,^(DG) 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^(DH) waters, like the voice^(DI) of the Almighty,^[c] like the tumult of an army.^(DJ) 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^(DK) of lapis lazuli,^(DL) and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man.^{(DM) 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.^{(DN) 28} Like the appearance of a rainbow^(DO) in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.^(DP)

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