Old/New Testament
A Desecrated Temple
8 In the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth of the month,[a] as I was sitting in my house with the elders of Judah sitting in front of me, the hand[b] of the Sovereign Lord seized me.[c] 2 As I watched, I noticed[d] a form that appeared to be a man.[e] From his waist downward was something like fire,[f] and from his waist upward something like a brightness,[g] like an amber glow.[h] 3 He stretched out the form[i] of a hand and grabbed me by a lock of hair on my head. Then a wind[j] lifted me up between the earth and sky and brought me to Jerusalem by divine visions, to the door of the inner gate that faces north where the statue[k] that provokes to jealousy was located. 4 Then I perceived that the glory of the God of Israel was there, as in the vision I had seen earlier in the valley.
5 He said to me, “Son of man, look up toward[l] the north.” So I looked up toward the north, and I noticed to the north of the altar gate was this statue of jealousy at the entrance.
6 He said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing—the great abominations that the people[m] of Israel are practicing here, to drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see greater abominations than these!”
7 He brought me to the entrance of the court, and as I watched, I noticed a hole in the wall. 8 He said to me, “Son of man, dig into the wall.” So I dug into the wall and discovered a doorway.
9 He said to me, “Go in and see the evil abominations they are practicing here.” 10 So I went in and looked. I noticed every figure[n] of creeping thing and beast—detestable images[o]—and every idol of the house of Israel, engraved on the wall all around.[p] 11 Seventy men from the elders of the house of Israel[q] (with Jaazaniah son of Shaphan standing among them) were standing in front of them, each with a censer in his hand, and fragrant vapors[r] from a cloud of incense were swirling upward.
12 He said to me, “Do you see, son of man, what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in the chamber of his idolatrous images?[s] For they think, ‘The Lord does not see us! The Lord has abandoned the land!’” 13 He said to me, “You will see them practicing even greater abominations!”
14 Then he brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the Lord’s house. I noticed[t] women sitting there weeping for Tammuz.[u] 15 He said to me, “Do you see this, son of man? You will see even greater abominations than these!”
16 Then he brought me to the inner court of the Lord’s house. Right there[v] at the entrance to the Lord’s temple, between the porch and the altar,[w] were about twenty-five[x] men with their backs to the Lord’s temple,[y] facing east—they were worshiping the sun[z] toward the east!
17 He said to me, “Do you see, son of man? Is it a trivial thing that the house of Judah commits these abominations they are practicing here? For they have filled the land with violence and provoked me to anger still further. Look, they are putting the branch to their nose![aa] 18 Therefore I will act with fury! My eye will not pity them nor will I spare[ab] them. When they have shouted in my ears, I will not listen to them.”
The Execution of Idolaters
9 Then he shouted in my ears, “Approach,[ac] you who are to visit destruction on the city, each with his destructive weapon in his hand!” 2 Next I noticed[ad] six men[ae] coming from the direction of the upper gate[af] that faces north, each with his war club in his hand. Among them was a man dressed in linen with a writing kit[ag] at his side. They came and stood beside the bronze altar.
3 Then the glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub where it had rested to the threshold of the temple.[ah] He called to the man dressed in linen who had the writing kit at his side. 4 The Lord said to him, “Go through the city of Jerusalem[ai] and put a mark[aj] on the foreheads of the people who moan and groan over all the abominations practiced in it.”
5 While I listened, he said to the others,[ak] “Go through the city after him and strike people down; do not let your eye pity nor spare[al] anyone! 6 Old men, young men, young women, little children, and women—wipe them out! But do not touch anyone who has the mark. Begin at my sanctuary!” So they began with the elders who were at the front of the temple.
7 He said to them, “Defile the temple and fill the courtyards with corpses. Go!” So they went out and struck people down throughout the city. 8 While they were striking them down, I was left alone, and I threw myself face down and cried out, “Ah, Sovereign Lord! Will you destroy the entire remnant of Israel when you pour out your fury on Jerusalem?”
9 He said to me, “The sin of the house of Israel and Judah is extremely great; the land is full of murder, and the city is full of corruption,[am] for they say, ‘The Lord has abandoned the land, and the Lord does not see!’[an] 10 But as for me, my eye will not pity them nor will I spare[ao] them; I hereby repay them for what they have done.”[ap]
11 Next I noticed the man dressed in linen with the writing kit at his side bringing back word: “I have done just as you commanded me.”
God’s Glory Leaves the Temple
10 As I watched, I saw[aq] on the platform[ar] above the top of the cherubim something like a sapphire, resembling the shape of a throne, appearing above them. 2 The Lord[as] said to the man dressed in linen, “Go between the wheelwork[at] underneath the cherubim.[au] Fill your hands with burning coals from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city.” He went as I watched.
3 (The cherubim were standing on the south side[av] of the temple when the man went in, and a cloud filled the inner court.) 4 Then the glory of the Lord arose from the cherub and moved to the threshold of the temple. The temple was filled with the cloud while the court was filled with the brightness of the Lord’s glory. 5 The sound of the wings of the cherubim could be heard from the outer court, like the sound of the Sovereign God[aw] when he speaks.
6 When the Lord[ax] commanded the man dressed in linen, “Take fire from within the wheelwork, from among the cherubim,” the man[ay] went in and stood by one of the wheels.[az] 7 Then one of the cherubim[ba] stretched out his hand[bb] toward the fire that was among the cherubim. He took some and put it into the hands of the man dressed in linen, who took it and left. 8 (The cherubim appeared to have the form[bc] of human hands under their wings.)
9 As I watched, I noticed[bd] four wheels by the cherubim, one wheel beside each cherub;[be] the wheels gleamed like jasper.[bf] 10 As for their appearance, all four of them looked the same, something like a wheel within a wheel.[bg] 11 When they[bh] moved, they would go in any of the four directions they faced without turning as they moved; in the direction the head would turn they would follow[bi] without turning as they moved, 12 along with their entire bodies,[bj] their backs, their hands, and their wings. The wheels of the four of them were full of eyes all around. 13 As for their wheels, they were called “the wheelwork”[bk] as I listened. 14 Each of the cherubim[bl] had four faces: The first was the face of a cherub,[bm] the second that of a man, the third that of a lion, and the fourth that of an eagle.
15 The cherubim rose up; these were the living beings[bn] I saw at the Kebar River. 16 When the cherubim moved, the wheels moved beside them; when the cherubim spread[bo] their wings to rise from the ground, the wheels did not move from their side. 17 When the cherubim[bp] stood still, the wheels[bq] stood still, and when they rose up, the wheels[br] rose up with them, for the spirit[bs] of the living beings[bt] was in the wheels.[bu]
18 Then the glory of the Lord moved away from the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim. 19 The cherubim spread[bv] their wings, and they rose up from the earth[bw] while I watched (when they went, the wheels went alongside them). They stopped at the entrance to the east gate of the Lord’s temple as the glory of the God of Israel hovered above them.
20 These were the living creatures[bx] that I saw at the Kebar River underneath the God of Israel; I knew that they were cherubim. 21 Each had four faces; each had four wings and the form of human hands under the wings. 22 As for the form of their faces, they were the faces whose appearance I had seen at the Kebar River. Each one moved straight ahead.
Final Exhortations
13 Brotherly love must continue. 2 Do not neglect hospitality, because through it some have entertained angels without knowing it.[a] 3 Remember those in prison as though you were in prison with them,[b] and those ill-treated as though you too felt their torment.[c] 4 Marriage must be honored among all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge sexually immoral people and adulterers. 5 Your conduct must be free from the love of money and you must be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you and I will never abandon you.”[d] 6 So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, and[e] I will not be afraid. What can people do to me?”[f] 7 Remember your leaders, who spoke God’s message to you; reflect on the outcome of their lives and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever! 9 Do not be carried away by all sorts of strange teachings.[g] For it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not ritual meals,[h] which have never benefited those who participated in them. 10 We have an altar that those who serve in the tabernacle have no right to eat from. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood the high priest brings[i] into the sanctuary as an offering for sin are burned outside the camp. 12 Therefore, to sanctify the people by his own blood, Jesus also suffered outside the camp. 13 We must go out to him, then, outside the camp, bearing the abuse he experienced.[j] 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, acknowledging his name. 16 And do not neglect to do good and to share what you have,[k] for God is pleased with such sacrifices.
17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls and will give an account for their work.[l] Let them do this[m] with joy and not with complaints, for this would be no advantage for you. 18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to conduct ourselves rightly in every respect. 19 I especially ask you to pray[n] that I may be restored to you very soon.
Benediction and Conclusion
20 Now may the God of peace who by the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus, 21 equip you with every good thing to do his will, working in us[o] what is pleasing before him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever.[p] Amen.
22 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters,[q] bear with my message of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you briefly. 23 You should know that[r] our brother Timothy has been released. If he comes soon, he will be with me when I see you.[s] 24 Greetings to all your leaders and all the saints. Those from Italy send you greetings. 25 Grace be with you all.[t]
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