Old/New Testament
The Vision of Jerusalem
8 In the sixth year, on the fifth day of the sixth month, I had just sat down in my house, with the elders of Judah seated in front of me. All of a sudden, the hand of the Lord God touched me 2 and I saw a likeness comparable to the appearance of a man. From his thighs downward there was the appearance of fire, and from his waist upward, there was the appearance of brightness that looked like brass.
3 The form of a hand reached out and took me by the hair of my head. Then the Spirit lifted me up between the earth and sky, brought me toward Jerusalem, and in visions that came from God took me through the doors of the inner gate that faced north, where an image that provoked God’s jealous anger had been erected.
4 All of a sudden, the glory of the God of Israel was there! It looked like what I had seen back in the valley. 5 Then he told me, “Son of Man, look up toward the north.”
So I looked off toward the north. Suddenly, off toward the north, facing the gate that led to the altar, the image that provoked God’s jealousy was standing near the entrance.
6 Then the Spirit[a] told me, “Son of Man, don’t you see what they’re doing? The house of Israel practices awful, detestable things here, so I’m going far away from my sanctuary. But you’re about to see things even more detestable than these.”
Idol Worship in the Temple
7 Then the Spirit[b] brought me to the entrance of the court. As I watched, all of a sudden, there was a[c] hole in the wall! 8 Then he told me, “Son of Man, dig through the wall!” So I dug into the wall. That’s when I uncovered an entrance!
9 Then he told me, “Go on through that entrance, so you may see the wicked, detestable things that they’re committing here.”
10 So I entered, looked around, and there was every form of crawling thing, loathsome animals, and all kinds of idols from the house of Israel carved all around the wall. 11 I saw 70 men from the elders of the house of Israel standing among them, including Shaphan’s son Jaazaniah. Each man held a censer in his hand. As the scent of the cloud of incense ascended, 12 the Spirit[d] asked me, “Do you see, Son of Man, what the elders of Israel’s house are doing in secret, each in the chamber of his own carved idol? They keep saying, ‘God doesn’t see us. The Lord has abandoned the land.’”
13 Then the Spirit[e] told me, “You’re about to see even more detestable practices that they’re doing!”
Women Weeping for Tammuz
14 Then he brought me to the entrance of the gate to the Lord’s Temple, which faced the north. That’s where I saw women seated, weeping for Tammuz. 15 Then he asked me, “Do you see this, Son of Man? You’re about to see even more detestable practices than these.”
Sun Worship in the Temple
16 Then he brought me to the inner court of the Lord’s Temple. There, at the entrance to the Lord’s Temple, between the porch and the altar, were 25 men, with their backs toward the Lord’s Temple and facing the east, prostrating themselves to the sun.
17 “Do you see this, Son of Man?” he asked me. “Is it an insignificant thing for Judah’s house to commit the detestable things that they’re doing here? They’ve filled the land with violence and turned away from me, causing me to become angry again. Look how they’re sniffing with their noses![f] 18 I’m going to deal with them in rage and anger. I’ll show neither pity nor compassion. They’ll cry loudly directly in my ears, but I won’t listen to them.”
The Vision of the Executioners
9 Then the Spirit[g] shouted right in my ears with a loud voice! “Come forward,” he said, “you executioners of the city, and bring your weapon of destruction in your[h] hand!”
2 All of a sudden, I noticed six men approaching from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north. Each of them held a destructive weapon in his hand. Among them there was one man, clothed in linen, who was equipped with a writing set[i] at his side. They went in and presented themselves beside the bronze altar. 3 Then the glory that is Israel’s God arose from the cherubim on which he had been seated and settled on the threshold of the Temple. He called out to the man dressed in linen who wore the writing case at his side.
4 The Lord told him, “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of everyone who sighs and moans over all of the loathsome things that are happening in it.”
5 As I continued to listen, he also told the others, “Follow him through the city and start killing. Don’t spare anyone you see, and don’t show pity of any kind. 6 You are to execute old men, young men, young women, little children, and women. But don’t touch anyone who has been marked. Begin at my Holy Place!” And so they started with the elders who were in standing in front of the Temple.
7 “Desecrate my Temple,” he told them, “and fill its courtyard with the dead!” So they went out and began striking down people throughout the city.
Ezekiel Intercedes for Israel
8 While they were out carrying out the executions, I was left alone. So I fell on my face and cried out, “O Lord God, are you going to destroy all of the survivors of Israel when you pour out your anger on Jerusalem?”
9 “The house of Israel and Judah is guilty—and theirs is a stubborn guilt, at that!” he replied to me. “The land is filled with blood, and the city overflows with injustice, because they keep saying, ‘The Lord has abandoned the land,’ and ‘The Lord isn’t watching.’ 10 So as for me, I’m not going to show pity, and I won’t look in their direction with mercy. I’m repaying them for what they have done.”
11 Then I noticed the man dressed in linen who wore the writing case by his side as he brought back this message: “I’ve done as you have commanded me.”
The Vision of God’s Throne
10 As I continued to watch, there on the expanse above the heads of the cherubim was a massive[j] sapphire stone that resembled a throne in form and appearance. 2 The Lord[k] spoke to the man who was clothed in white linen, telling him, “Go between the whirling wheels, under the cherubim, and fill your hands with burning coals from among the cherubim. Then scatter them[l] over the city.” So he entered as I watched.[m]
3 Now the cherubim were standing on the south[n] side of the entrance to the Temple, when the man entered and a cloud filled the inner court. 4 The glory of the Lord rose above the cherub and moved to the threshold of the Temple. A cloud filled the Temple and the court was filled with the brilliance of the Lord’s glory. 5 The sound of the wings of the cherubim, reminiscent of the voice of the Sovereign God when he speaks, could be heard as far as the outer court.
6 He issued this order to the man who was clothed in white linen: “Take fire from within the whirling wheels, among the cherubim.” So he went and stood beside the wheels.
Ezekiel’s Vision of the Cherubim
7 Then a cherub stretched out his hand to the fire, which was among the cherubim, took some of the fire, and placed it in the hands of the one clothed in white linen, who took it and left. 8 There appeared to be human hands under the wings of the cherubim.
9 As I continued to watch, I observed four wheels beside the cherubim, one wheel beside each cherub.[o] The wheels resembled beryl stone. 10 In appearance, the four wheels looked like they consisted of a wheel within a wheel. 11 Whenever they moved, they proceeded without turning around as they moved, but they followed in the direction where their head was facing, without looking around as they moved.
12 Their entire bodies, backs, hands, and wings were filled with eyes around, including each of their four wheels. 13 The wheels whose sound I was hearing were called “the whirling wheels”. 14 Each had four faces. The first one was the face of a cherub, the second the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
15 The cherubim arose. These were the same beings that I had seen at the Chebar River. 16 When the cherubim moved, the wheels went alongside them. But when the cherubim started to ascend, beating their wings to rise above the earth, the wheels beside them didn’t turn. 17 When they stood still, the wheels stood still. When they rose up, the wheels rose up, too, because they were alive.[p]
18 Then the glory of the Lord moved away from the threshold of the Temple and stood over the cherubim. 19 The cherubim lifted their wings and rose above the earth while I watched. They went out, along with their wheels, and stood at the entrance to the east gate of the Lord’s Temple as the glory of Israel’s God remained above, covering them.
20 These were the living beings that I had seen under the God of Israel on the bank of the Chebar River. I knew that they were cherubim. 21 Each one had four faces. Each one had four wings, and the form of human hands could be seen under their wings. 22 As to the likeness of their faces, they were like what I had seen on the bank of the Chebar River. They each moved straight ahead.
Concluding Words
13 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Stop neglecting to show hospitality to strangers, for by showing hospitality[a] some have had angels as their guests without being aware of it. 3 Continue to remember those in prison as if you were in prison with them, as well as those who are mistreated, since they also are only mortal.[b]
4 Let marriage be kept honorable in every way, and the marriage bed undefiled. For God will judge those who commit sexual sins, especially those who commit adultery.
5 Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for God[c] has said, “I will never leave you or abandon you.”[d] 6 Hence we can confidently say, “The Lord[e] is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?”[f]
7 Remember your leaders, those who have spoken God’s word to you. Think about the impact of their lives, and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus, the Messiah,[g] is the same yesterday and today—and forever!
9 Stop being[h] carried away by all kinds of unusual teachings, for it is good that the heart be strengthened by grace, not by food laws[i] that have never helped those who follow them.
10 We have an altar, and those who serve in the tent have no right to eat at it. 11 For the bodies of animals, whose blood is taken into the sanctuary by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp. 12 That is why Jesus, in order to sanctify the people by his own blood, also suffered outside the city gate. 13 Therefore go to him outside the camp and endure the insults he endured. 14 For here we have no permanent city but are looking for the one that is coming. 15 Therefore, through him let us always bring God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of our lips that confess his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to be generous, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.
17 Continue to follow and be submissive to your leaders, since they are watching over your souls as those who will have to give a word of explanation. By doing this, you will be letting them carry out their duties joyfully, and not with grief, for that would be harmful for you.
18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. 19 I especially ask you to do this so that I may be brought back to you sooner.
20 Now may the God of peace, who by the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good[j] to do his will, accomplishing in us[k] what pleases him through Jesus, the Messiah.[l] To him be glory forever and ever![m] Amen.
Final Greeting
22 I urge you, brothers, to listen patiently to my encouraging message,[n] for I have written you a short letter.[o] 23 You should know that our brother Timothy has been set free. If he comes soon, he will be with me when I see you.
24 Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who are from Italy greet you.
25 May grace be with all of you![p]
Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC.