² On the fifth of the month—it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin^(A)— ³ the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel^(B) 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.^(C)

⁴ I looked, and I saw a windstorm^(D) coming out of the north^(E)—an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal,^{(F) 5} and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures.^(G) In appearance their form was human,^(H)

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 Predicts His Death a Second Time

²² When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man^(A) is going to be delivered into the hands of men. ²³ They will kill him,^(B) and on the third day^(C) he will be raised to life.”^(D) And the disciples were filled with grief.

The Temple Tax

²⁴ After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax^(E) came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”

²⁵ “Yes, he does,” he replied.

When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes^(F)—from their own children or from others?”

²⁶ “From others,” Peter answered.

“Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. ²⁷ “But so that we may not cause offense,^(G) go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”