Old/New Testament
Chapter 8
Idolatry in the Temple.[a] 1 In the sixth year, on the fifth day of the sixth month, as I was sitting in my house, with the elders of Judah sitting beside me, suddenly the hand of the Lord fell upon me there.
2 As I looked, I beheld a figure that had the form of a man. From the area of his waist downward, he appeared to be like fire, and upward from his waist, he seemed to have a brilliance like gleaming amber. 3 He stretched forth what appeared to be a hand and grasped me by a lock of my hair. A Spirit then lifted me up between earth and heaven, and in divine visions he brought me to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the inner north gate, where stood the idol that arouses one to jealousy.[b] 4 The glory of the God of Israel was present before me, like the vision I had seen in the valley.
5 Then the Lord said to me, “Son of man, look toward the north.” I raised my eyes toward the north, and there, north of the temple gate, a statue of jealousy stood at the entrance. 6 He asked, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing? Behold the loathsome abominations that the house of Israel is engaging in here in their determination to drive me out of my sanctuary. And you will see still greater abominations.”
7 Then he brought me to the entrance of the court, where I perceived a hole in the wall. 8 He then ordered, “Son of man, dig through the wall.” After I dug through the wall, I beheld a door. 9 He said to me, “Enter and behold the vile abominations in which they are engaged there.”
10 I entered and looked around. Upon the wall were depicted the carved figures of every kind of creeping thing and loathsome animals and all the idols of the house of Israel.[c] 11 Before them stood seventy of the elders of the house of Israel, including Jaazaniah, the son of Shaphan. Each of them held a censer in his hand, and all the fragrance of the incense ascended upward.
12 Then he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each one at the shrine of his own idol? They think that the Lord has forsaken the land and that he does not see them.” 13 He also said to me, “You will see even greater abominations practiced by them.”
14 Next he took me to the entrance of the north gate of the house of the Lord, where women were sitting, weeping for Tammuz. 15 Then he said to me, “Son of man, do you see this? You will see even greater abominations than these.”
16 He then brought me into the inner court of the house of the Lord. There, at the entrance of the temple of the Lord, between the portico and the altar, were about twenty-five men, with their backs to the temple of the Lord and their faces toward the east, prostrating themselves toward the east before the rising sun.
17 Then he said to me, “Do you see this, son of man? Is it not bad enough for the house of Judah to do the loathsome things they have done here? They have filled the land with violence and provoked me to anger time after time. Observe how they put the branch to their nose.[d] 18 Therefore, I will turn against them in fury. I will not pity them or spare them. No matter how loudly they may cry out to me, I will not listen to them.”
Chapter 9[e]
Punishment of the Idolaters. 1 Then he shouted loudly for me to hear: “The scourges of the city are drawing near, each brandishing his weapon of destruction.” 2 Thereupon, I saw six men approaching from the direction of the upper gate which faces north, each one with a weapon for slaughter in his hand. Among them was a man clothed in linen,[f] with the necessary paraphernalia for writing in his hand. They went in and stood beside the bronze altar.
3 The glory of the God of Israel had risen above the cherubim upon which it rested to the threshold of the temple. Then he called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing case at his side, 4 and he said to him: “Go throughout the city, throughout Jerusalem, and mark[g] with a cross the foreheads of all those who grieve and lament over all the abominable practices that run rampant throughout its boundaries.”
5 To the others I heard him say: “Follow him throughout the city and kill, without looking upon them with pity or showing them any mercy. 6 Cut down old men, young men and maidens, small children and women, but touch no one who is marked on the forehead with a cross. Begin at my sanctuary.” And so they began with the elders who were in front of the temple. 7 Then he said to them: “Defile the temple and fill the courtyards with the slain.” Then they went forth and killed their way through the city.
8 While they continued with their mission of slaying, I was left alone. Throwing myself on the ground, I cried out, “Ah, Lord God, will you annihilate all that is left of Israel by pouring out your wrath on Jerusalem?” 9 He answered: “The guilt of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great. The land is filled with bloodshed and the city is filled with perversity. They believe that the Lord has forsaken the land and that he does not see. 10 However, I will not look upon them with pity or show them any mercy. I will bring down their deeds upon their heads.”
11 Then the man clothed in linen and carrying the writing case reported, “I have done as you commanded me.”
Chapter 10
God’s Glory Leaves the Temple. 1 Then I looked and observed that above the vault that was over the heads of the cherubim there was what appeared to be a sapphire in the shape of a throne. 2 The Lord said to the man clothed in linen, “Go within the wheels beneath the cherubim. Fill both of your hands with burning coals from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city.” As I looked on, the man entered.
3 The cherubim were standing on the right side of the temple as the man went in, and the cloud filled the inner court. 4 Then the glory of the Lord rose from above the cherubim to the threshold of the temple. The temple was filled with the cloud, and the entire court was filled with the brightness 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 of God when he speaks.
6 When the Lord had commanded the man dressed in linen to take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubim, the man entered and stood by one of the wheels. 7 Then one of the cherubim stretched out his hand to the fire in their midst, took up some of it, and put it into the hands of the man clothed in linen, who took it and then went outside. 8 The cherubim seemed to have under their wings what appeared to be a human hand.
9 As I looked on, I saw that there were four wheels beside the cherubim, one wheel beside each cherub, and the wheels had the appearance of sparkling chrysolite. 10 As for their appearance, all four seemed to be identical, something like a wheel within a wheel.
11 When the cherubim moved, they went in any of the four directions without veering from their course. In whatever direction the front wheel faced, the others followed without swerving as they moved. 12 Their entire bodies—their backs, their hands, and their wings—were filled with eyes, as were their wheels.
13 As for the wheels, I heard them called “the wheelworks.” 14 Each one had four faces. The first face was that of a cherub, the second was that of a human, the third was that of a lion, and the fourth was that of an eagle.
15 The cherubim rose up—the identical living creatures that I had seen by the River Chebar. 16 When the cherubim moved, the wheels moved beside them, and when the cherubim lifted up their wings and rose from the ground, the wheels at their side did not veer. 17 When they stopped, the others stopped, and when they rose up, the others rose with them, for the Spirit of the living creatures was in them.
18 [h]Then the glory of the Lord came forth from the threshold of the temple and paused above the cherubim. 19 The cherubim lifted up their wings, and I beheld them as they rose from the ground, with the wheels beside them. They halted at the entrance of the east gate of the house of the Lord, and the glory of the God of Israel was with them.
20 These were the living creatures that I had seen beneath the God of Israel by the River Chebar, and I knew that they were cherubim. 21 Each had four faces and four wings, and underneath their wings were what appeared to be human hands. 22 Their faces were identical to those I had seen by the River Chebar. Each one moved straight ahead.
Conclusion
Chapter 13
Aspects of the Christian Life.[a] 1 Let mutual love continue, 2 and do not forget to offer hospitality to strangers, for by doing this some have entertained angels without knowing it.[b] 3 Be mindful of those who are in prison, as though you were imprisoned with them, and of those who are being maltreated, since you too are in the body.
4 Let marriage be held in honor by all, and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for those who are immoral and adulterers will have to face God’s judgment. 5 Do not succumb to the love of money, but be content with what you have, for God has said, “I will never forsake you or abandon you.” 6 Therefore, we can say with confidence:
“The Lord is my helper;
I will not be afraid.
What can anyone do to me?”
Let Us Seek the City That Is To Come.[c] 7 Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Keep in mind the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
9 Do not be led astray by all kinds of strange doctrines. It is good for us to have our hearts strengthened by grace, and not by ceremonial foods, which have not benefited those who partake of them.
10 We have an altar[d] from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as a sin offering are burned outside the camp.[e] 12 Therefore, Jesus also suffered outside the city gate in order to sanctify the people by his own blood.[f]
13 Let us then go to him outside the camp[g] and bear the abuse he endured. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we are seeking the one that is to come. 15 Through him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise,[h] that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.
16 [i]Do not neglect to do good works and to share with others what you have, for these are the kind of sacrifices that please God. 17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls and will have to render an account in that regard. Make this a joy for them to do rather than a grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.
18 Pray for us. We are sure that our own conscience is clear, and our desire is to act honorably in everything we do. 19 I especially ask you to do this that I may be restored to you as soon as possible.
20 Final Doxology.[j]May the God of peace—who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant— 21 make you perfect in every respect so that you may do his will. And may he enable us to achieve what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
22 News and Farewell. I urge you, brethren, to listen to my words of exhortation; that is why I have written to you only a short letter. 23 I want to let you know that our brother Timothy has been set free.[k] If he arrives in time, he will be with me when I see you.
24 My greetings to all your leaders and to all the saints.[l] Those from Italy send you their greetings as well.
25 Grace be with all of you.
Copyright © 2019 by Catholic Book Publishing Corp. All rights reserved.