Jesus Anointed at Bethany^(A)(B)(C)

14 Now the Passover^(D) and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him.^{(E) 2} “But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.”

³ While he was in Bethany,^(F) reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.^(G)

⁴ Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? ⁵ It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages^[a] and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.

⁶ “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. ⁷ The poor you will always have with you,^[b] and you can help them any time you want.^(H) But you will not always have me. ⁸ She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.^{(I) 9} Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world,^(J) what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

¹⁰ Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve,^(K) went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them.^{(L) 11} They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

The Last Supper^(M)(N)

¹² On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb,^(O) Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

¹³ So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. ¹⁴ Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ ¹⁵ He will show you a large room upstairs,^(P) furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”

¹⁶ The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

¹⁷ When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. ¹⁸ While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.”

¹⁹ They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely you don’t mean me?”

²⁰ “It is one of the Twelve,” he replied, “one who dips bread into the bowl with me.^{(Q) 21} The Son of Man^(R) will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

²² While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it^(S) and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”

²³ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.^(T)

²⁴ “This is my blood of the^[c] covenant,^(U) which is poured out for many,” he said to them. ²⁵ “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”^(V)

²⁶ When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.^(W)

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial^(X)

²⁷ “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written:

²⁸ But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”^(Z)

²⁹ Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”

³⁰ “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice^[e] you yourself will disown me three times.”^(AA)

³¹ But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you,^(AB) I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same.

Gethsemane^(AC)

³² They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” ³³ He took Peter, James and John^(AD) along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. ³⁴ “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,”^(AE) he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”

³⁵ Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour^(AF) might pass from him. ³⁶ “Abba,^[f] Father,”^(AG) he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup^(AH) from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”^(AI)

³⁷ Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? ³⁸ Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.^(AJ) The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”^(AK)

³⁹ Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. ⁴⁰ When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.

⁴¹ Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour^(AL) has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. ⁴² Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

God’s Glory Departs From the Temple

10 I looked, and I saw the likeness of a throne^(A) of lapis lazuli^(B) above the vault^(C) that was over the heads of the cherubim.^{(D) 2} The Lord said to the man clothed in linen,^(E) “Go in among the wheels^(F) beneath the cherubim. Fill^(G) your hands with burning coals^(H) 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^(I) 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^(J) of God Almighty^[a] when he speaks.^(K)

⁶ When the Lord commanded the man in linen, “Take fire from among the wheels,^(L) 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^(M) 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.)^(N)

⁹ I looked, and I saw beside the cherubim four wheels, one beside each of the cherubim; the wheels sparkled like topaz.^{(O) 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,^(P) as were their four wheels.^{(Q) 13} I heard the wheels being called “the whirling wheels.” ¹⁴ Each of the cherubim^(R) had four faces:^(S) One face was that of a cherub, the second the face of a human being, the third the face of a lion,^(T) and the fourth the face of an eagle.^(U)

¹⁵ Then the cherubim rose upward. These were the living creatures^(V) I had seen by the Kebar River.^{(W) 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.^(X)

¹⁸ Then the glory^(Y) of the Lord departed from over the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim.^{(Z) 19} While I watched, the cherubim spread their wings and rose from the ground, and as they went, the wheels went with them.^(AA) They stopped at the entrance of the east gate of the Lord’s house, and the glory^(AB) 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,^(AC) and I realized that they were cherubim. ²¹ Each had four faces^(AD) and four wings,^(AE) 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.^(AF) Each one went straight ahead.

God’s Sure Judgment on Jerusalem

11 Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the gate of the house of the Lord that faces east. There at the entrance of the gate were twenty-five men, and I saw among them Jaazaniah son of Azzur and Pelatiah^(AG) son of Benaiah, leaders^(AH) of the people.^{(AI) 2} The Lord said to me, “Son of man, these are the men who are plotting evil^(AJ) and giving wicked advice in this city.^{(AK) 3} They say, ‘Haven’t our houses been recently rebuilt? This city is a pot,^(AL) and we are the meat in it.’^{(AM) 4} Therefore prophesy^(AN) against them; prophesy, son of man.”

⁵ Then the Spirit of the Lord came on me, and he told me to say: “This is what the Lord says: That is what you are saying, you leaders in Israel, but I know what is going through your mind.^{(AO) 6} You have killed many people in this city and filled its streets with the dead.^(AP)

⁷ “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: The bodies you have thrown there are the meat and this city is the pot,^(AQ) but I will drive you out of it.^{(AR) 8} You fear the sword,^(AS) and the sword is what I will bring against you, declares the Sovereign Lord.^{(AT) 9} I will drive you out of the city and deliver you into the hands^(AU) of foreigners and inflict punishment on you.^{(AV) 10} You will fall by the sword, and I will execute judgment on you at the borders of Israel.^(AW) Then you will know that I am the Lord. ¹¹ This city will not be a pot^(AX) for you, nor will you be the meat in it; I will execute judgment on you at the borders of Israel. ¹² And you will know that I am the Lord,^(AY) for you have not followed my decrees^(AZ) or kept my laws but have conformed to the standards of the nations around you.^(BA)”

¹³ Now as I was prophesying, Pelatiah^(BB) son of Benaiah died. Then I fell facedown and cried out in a loud voice, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! Will you completely destroy the remnant of Israel?^(BC)”

The Promise of Israel’s Return

¹⁴ The word of the Lord came to me: ¹⁵ “Son of man, the people of Jerusalem have said of your fellow exiles and all the other Israelites, ‘They are far away from the Lord; this land was given to us as our possession.’^(BD)

¹⁶ “Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary^(BE) for them in the countries where they have gone.’

¹⁷ “Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again.’^(BF)

¹⁸ “They will return to it and remove all its vile images^(BG) and detestable idols.^{(BH) 19} I will give them an undivided heart^(BI) and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone^(BJ) and give them a heart of flesh.^{(BK) 20} Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.^(BL) They will be my people,^(BM) and I will be their God.^{(BN) 21} But as for those whose hearts are devoted to their vile images and detestable idols,^(BO) I will bring down on their own heads what they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord.^(BP)”

²² Then the cherubim, with the wheels beside them, spread their wings, and the glory^(BQ) of the God of Israel was above them.^{(BR) 23} The glory^(BS) of the Lord went up from within the city and stopped above the mountain^(BT) east of it. ²⁴ The Spirit^(BU) lifted me up and brought me to the exiles in Babylonia^[c] in the vision^(BV) given by the Spirit of God.

Then the vision I had seen went up from me, ²⁵ and I told the exiles everything the Lord had shown me.^(BW)

The Exile Symbolized

12 The word of the Lord came to me: ² “Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people.^(BX) They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.^(BY)

³ “Therefore, son of man, pack your belongings for exile and in the daytime, as they watch, set out and go from where you are to another place. Perhaps^(BZ) they will understand,^(CA) though they are a rebellious people.^{(CB) 4} During the daytime, while they watch, bring out your belongings packed for exile. Then in the evening, while they are watching, go out like those who go into exile.^{(CC) 5} While they watch, dig through the wall^(CD) and take your belongings out through it. ⁶ Put them on your shoulder as they are watching and carry them out at dusk. Cover your face so that you cannot see the land, for I have made you a sign^(CE) to the Israelites.”

⁷ So I did as I was commanded.^(CF) During the day I brought out my things packed for exile. Then in the evening I dug through the wall with my hands. I took my belongings out at dusk, carrying them on my shoulders while they watched.

⁸ In the morning the word of the Lord came to me: ⁹ “Son of man, did not the Israelites, that rebellious people, ask you, ‘What are you doing?’^(CG)

¹⁰ “Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: This prophecy concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the Israelites who are there.’ ¹¹ Say to them, ‘I am a sign^(CH) to you.’

“As I have done, so it will be done to them. They will go into exile as captives.^(CI)

¹² “The prince among them will put his things on his shoulder at dusk^(CJ) and leave, and a hole will be dug in the wall for him to go through. He will cover his face so that he cannot see the land.^{(CK) 13} I will spread my net^(CL) for him, and he will be caught in my snare;^(CM) I will bring him to Babylonia, the land of the Chaldeans,^(CN) but he will not see^(CO) it, and there he will die.^{(CP) 14} I will scatter to the winds all those around him—his staff and all his troops—and I will pursue them with drawn sword.^(CQ)

¹⁵ “They will know that I am the Lord, when I disperse them among the nations^(CR) and scatter them through the countries. ¹⁶ But I will spare a few of them from the sword, famine and plague, so that in the nations where they go they may acknowledge all their detestable practices. Then they will know that I am the Lord.^(CS)”

¹⁷ The word of the Lord came to me: ¹⁸ “Son of man, tremble as you eat your food,^(CT) and shudder in fear as you drink your water. ¹⁹ Say to the people of the land: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says about those living in Jerusalem and in the land of Israel: They will eat their food in anxiety and drink their water in despair, for their land will be stripped of everything^(CU) in it because of the violence of all who live there.^{(CV) 20} The inhabited towns will be laid waste and the land will be desolate. Then you will know that I am the Lord.^(CW)’”

There Will Be No Delay

²¹ The word of the Lord came to me: ²² “Son of man, what is this proverb^(CX) you have in the land of Israel: ‘The days go by and every vision comes to nothing’?^{(CY) 23} Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am going to put an end to this proverb, and they will no longer quote it in Israel.’ Say to them, ‘The days are near^(CZ) when every vision will be fulfilled.^{(DA) 24} For there will be no more false visions or flattering divinations^(DB) among the people of Israel. ²⁵ But I the Lord will speak what I will, and it shall be fulfilled without delay.^(DC) For in your days, you rebellious people, I will fulfill^(DD) whatever I say, declares the Sovereign Lord.^(DE)’”

²⁶ The word of the Lord came to me: ²⁷ “Son of man, the Israelites are saying, ‘The vision he sees is for many years from now, and he prophesies about the distant future.’^(DF)

²⁸ “Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”