The Holy Stones Lie Scattered

Restore Us to Yourself, O Lord

Ezekiel in Babylon

1 ^(BP)In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by ^(BQ)the Chebar canal, ^(BR)the heavens were opened, and I saw ^(BS)visions of God.^{[h] 2} On the fifth day of the month (it was ^(BT)the fifth year of ^(BU)the exile of King Jehoiachin), ³ the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel ^(BV)the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by ^(BW)the Chebar canal, and ^(BX)the hand of the Lord was upon him there.

The Glory of the Lord

⁴ As I looked, behold, ^(BY)a stormy wind came ^(BZ)out of the north, and a great cloud, with ^(CA)brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, ^(CB)as it were gleaming metal.^{[i] 5} And from the midst of it came the likeness of ^(CC)four living creatures. ^(CD)And this was their appearance: they had a human likeness, ^6 (CE)but each had four faces, and each of them had four wings. ⁷ Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf's foot. And they sparkled ^(CF)like burnished bronze. ⁸ Under their wings ^(CG)on their four sides ^(CH)they had human hands. And the four had their faces and their wings thus: ⁹ their wings touched one another. ^(CI)Each one of them went straight forward, ^(CJ)without turning as they went. ¹⁰ As for the likeness of their faces, ^(CK)each had a human face. The four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle. ¹¹ Such were their faces. And their wings were spread out above. Each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while ^(CL)two covered their bodies. ^12 (CM)And each went straight forward. ^(CN)Wherever the spirit^[j] would go, they went, without turning as they went. ¹³ As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was ^(CO)like burning coals of fire, ^(CP)like the appearance of torches moving to and fro among the living creatures. ^(CQ)And the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. ¹⁴ And the living creatures ^(CR)darted to and fro, ^(CS)like the appearance of a flash of lightning.

^15 (CT)Now as I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, one for each of the four of them.^{[k] 16 (CU)}As for the appearance of the wheels and their construction: their appearance was like ^(CV)the gleaming of beryl. ^(CW)And the four had the same likeness, their appearance and construction being as it were a wheel within a wheel. ^17 (CX)When they went, they went ^(CY)in any of their four directions^{[l] (CZ)}without turning as they went. ¹⁸ And their rims were tall and awesome, ^(DA)and the rims of all four were full of eyes all around. ^19 (DB)And when the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; ^(DC)and when the living creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose. ^20 (DD)Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, and the wheels rose along with them, ^(DE)for the spirit of the living creatures^[m] was in the wheels. ^21 (DF)When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; ^(DG)and when those rose from the earth, the wheels rose along with them, ^(DH)for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.

²² Over the heads of the living creatures there was ^(DI)the likeness of an expanse, shining like awe-inspiring ^(DJ)crystal, spread out above their heads. ²³ And under the expanse their wings were ^(DK)stretched out straight, one toward another. ^(DL)And each creature had two wings covering its body. ²⁴ And when they went, I heard the sound of their wings ^(DM)like the sound of many waters, like ^(DN)the sound of the ^(DO)Almighty, a sound of tumult ^(DP)like the sound of an army. When they stood still, they let down their wings. ²⁵ And there came a voice from above ^(DQ)the expanse over their heads. When they stood still, they let down their wings.

²⁶ And above the expanse over their heads there was ^(DR)the likeness of a throne, ^(DS)in appearance ^(DT)like sapphire;^[n] and seated above the likeness of a throne was ^(DU)a likeness with a human appearance. ²⁷ And ^(DV)upward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were ^(DW)gleaming metal, like the appearance of fire enclosed all around. And downward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and ^(DX)there was brightness around him.^{[o] 28} Like the appearance of ^(DY)the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around.

Such was the appearance of the likeness of ^(DZ)the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, ^(EA)I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

Paul's Ministry to the Thessalonians

2 For you yourselves know, brothers,^[a] that our ^(A)coming to you ^(B)was not in vain. ² But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated ^(C)at Philippi, as you know, ^(D)we had boldness in our God ^(E)to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much ^(F)conflict. ³ For ^(G)our appeal does not spring from ^(H)error or ^(I)impurity or ^(J)any attempt to deceive, ⁴ but just as we have been approved by God ^(K)to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not ^(L)to please man, but to please God ^(M)who tests our hearts. ^5 (N)For we never came with words of flattery,^[b] as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—^(O)God is witness. ^6 (P)Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, ^(Q)though we could have made ^(R)demands as ^(S)apostles of Christ. ⁷ But we were ^(T)gentle^[c] among you, ^(U)like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. ⁸ So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God ^(V)but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

⁹ For you remember, brothers, ^(W)our labor and toil: we ^(X)worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. ¹⁰ You are witnesses, and ^(Y)God also, ^(Z)how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. ¹¹ For you know how, ^(AA)like a father with his children, ¹² we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and ^(AB)charged ^(AC)you to walk in a manner worthy of God, ^(AD)who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

¹³ And ^(AE)we also thank God constantly^[d] for this, that when you received ^(AF)the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it ^(AG)not as the word of men^[e] but as what it really is, the word of God, ^(AH)which is at work in you believers. ¹⁴ For you, brothers, ^(AI)became imitators of ^(AJ)the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For ^(AK)you suffered the same things from your own countrymen ^(AL)as they did from the Jews,^{[f] 15 (AM)}who killed both the Lord Jesus and ^(AN)the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and ^(AO)oppose all mankind ^16 (AP)by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always ^(AQ)to fill up the measure of their sins. But ^(AR)wrath has come upon them at last!^[g]

Paul's Longing to See Them Again

¹⁷ But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, ^(AS)in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire ^(AT)to see you face to face, ¹⁸ because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan ^(AU)hindered us. ¹⁹ For what is our hope or ^(AV)joy or crown of boasting ^(AW)before our Lord Jesus at his ^(AX)coming? Is it not you? ²⁰ For you are our glory and joy.