Ezekiel’s Inaugural Vision

1 In my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles^(A) by the Kebar River,^(B) the heavens were opened^(C) and I saw visions^(D) of God.

² On the fifth of the month—it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin^(E)— ³ the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel^(F) the priest, the son of Buzi, by the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians.^[a] There the hand of the Lord was on him.^(G)

⁴ I looked, and I saw a windstorm^(H) coming out of the north^(I)—an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal,^{(J) 5} and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures.^(K) In appearance their form was human,^{(L) 6} but each of them had four faces^(M) and four wings. ⁷ Their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished bronze.^{(N) 8} Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands.^(O) All four of them had faces and wings, ⁹ and the wings of one touched the wings of another. Each one went straight ahead; they did not turn as they moved.^(P)

¹⁰ Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a human being, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle.^{(Q) 11} Such were their faces. They each had two wings^(R) spreading out upward, each wing touching that of the creature on either side; and each had two other wings covering its body. ¹² Each one went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went.^{(S) 13} The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals^(T) of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightning^(U) flashed out of it. ¹⁴ The creatures sped back and forth like flashes of lightning.^(V)

¹⁵ As I looked at the living creatures,^(W) I saw a wheel^(X) on the ground beside each creature with its four faces. ¹⁶ This was the appearance and structure of the wheels: They sparkled like topaz,^(Y) and all four looked alike. Each appeared to be made like a wheel intersecting a wheel. ¹⁷ As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the creatures faced; the wheels did not change direction^(Z) as the creatures went. ¹⁸ Their rims were high and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyes^(AA) all around.

¹⁹ When the living creatures moved, the wheels beside them moved; and when the living creatures rose from the ground, the wheels also rose. ²⁰ Wherever the spirit would go, they would go,^(AB) and the wheels would rise along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. ²¹ When the creatures moved, they also moved; when the creatures stood still, they also stood still; and when the creatures rose from the ground, the wheels rose along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.^(AC)

²² Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was what looked something like a vault,^(AD) sparkling like crystal, and awesome. ²³ Under the vault their wings were stretched out one toward the other, and each had two wings covering its body. ²⁴ When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushing^(AE) waters, like the voice^(AF) of the Almighty,^[b] like the tumult of an army.^(AG) When they stood still, they lowered their wings.

²⁵ Then there came a voice from above the vault over their heads as they stood with lowered wings. ²⁶ Above the vault over their heads was what looked like a throne^(AH) of lapis lazuli,^(AI) and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man.^{(AJ) 27} I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him.^{(AK) 28} Like the appearance of a rainbow^(AL) in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.^(AM)

This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory^(AN) of the Lord. When I saw it, I fell facedown,^(AO) and I heard the voice of one speaking.

Ezekiel’s Call to Be a Prophet

2 He said to me, “Son of man,^[c](AP) stand^(AQ) up on your feet and I will speak to you.^(AR)” ² As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me^(AS) to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.

³ He said: “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day.^{(AT) 4} The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn.^(AU) Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’^{(AV) 5} And whether they listen or fail to listen^(AW)—for they are a rebellious people^(AX)—they will know that a prophet has been among them.^{(AY) 6} And you, son of man, do not be afraid^(AZ) of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns^(BA) are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.^{(BB) 7} You must speak^(BC) my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious.^{(BD) 8} But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel^(BE) like that rebellious people;^(BF) open your mouth and eat^(BG) what I give you.”

⁹ Then I looked, and I saw a hand^(BH) stretched out to me. In it was a scroll,^{(BI) 10} which he unrolled before me. On both sides of it were written words of lament and mourning and woe.^(BJ)

3 And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people of Israel.” ² So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.

³ Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate^(BK) it, and it tasted as sweet as honey^(BL) in my mouth.

⁴ He then said to me: “Son of man, go now to the people of Israel and speak my words to them.^{(BM) 5} You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and strange language,^(BN) but to the people of Israel— ⁶ not to many peoples of obscure speech and strange language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you.^{(BO) 7} But the people of Israel are not willing to listen^(BP) to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for all the Israelites are hardened and obstinate.^{(BQ) 8} But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are.^{(BR) 9} I will make your forehead^(BS) like the hardest stone, harder than flint.^(BT) Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.^(BU)”

¹⁰ And he said to me, “Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart^(BV) all the words I speak to you. ¹¹ Go^(BW) now to your people in exile and speak to them. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says,’^(BX) whether they listen or fail to listen.^(BY)”

¹² Then the Spirit lifted me up,^(BZ) and I heard behind me a loud rumbling sound as the glory of the Lord rose from the place where it was standing.^{[d] 13} It was the sound of the wings of the living creatures^(CA) brushing against each other and the sound of the wheels beside them, a loud rumbling sound.^{(CB) 14} The Spirit^(CC) then lifted me up^(CD) and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the Lord^(CE) on me. ¹⁵ I came to the exiles who lived at Tel Aviv near the Kebar River.^(CF) And there, where they were living, I sat among them for seven days^(CG)—deeply distressed.

Ezekiel’s Task as Watchman

¹⁶ At the end of seven days the word of the Lord came to me:^{(CH) 17} “Son of man, I have made you a watchman^(CI) for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.^{(CJ) 18} When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,^(CK)’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for^[e] their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.^{(CL) 19} But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn^(CM) from their wickedness^(CN) or from their evil ways, they will die^(CO) for their sin; but you will have saved yourself.^(CP)

²⁰ “Again, when a righteous person turns^(CQ) from their righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block^(CR) before them, they will die. Since you did not warn them, they will die for their sin. The righteous things that person did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.^{(CS) 21} But if you do warn the righteous person not to sin and they do not sin, they will surely live because they took warning, and you will have saved yourself.^(CT)”

²² The hand of the Lord^(CU) was on me there, and he said to me, “Get up and go^(CV) out to the plain,^(CW) and there I will speak to you.” ²³ So I got up and went out to the plain. And the glory of the Lord was standing there, like the glory I had seen by the Kebar River,^(CX) and I fell facedown.^(CY)

²⁴ Then the Spirit came into me and raised me^(CZ) to my feet. He spoke to me and said: “Go, shut yourself inside your house.^{(DA) 25} And you, son of man, they will tie with ropes; you will be bound so that you cannot go out among the people.^{(DB) 26} I will make your tongue stick to the roof^(DC) of your mouth so that you will be silent and unable to rebuke them, for they are a rebellious people.^{(DD) 27} But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you shall say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’^(DE) Whoever will listen let them listen, and whoever will refuse let them refuse; for they are a rebellious people.^(DF)

Taming the Tongue

3 Not many of you should become teachers,^(A) my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged^(B) more strictly.^{(C) 2} We all stumble^(D) in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say^(E) is perfect,^(F) able to keep their whole body in check.^(G)

³ When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.^{(H) 4} Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. ⁵ Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.^(I) Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶ The tongue also is a fire,^(J) a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body,^(K) sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.^(L)

⁷ All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, ⁸ but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.^(M)

⁹ With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.^{(N) 10} Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. ¹¹ Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? ¹² My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs?^(O) Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Two Kinds of Wisdom

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it^(P) by their good life, by deeds^(Q) done in the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition^(R) in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.^{(S) 15} Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven^(T) but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.^{(U) 16} For where you have envy and selfish ambition,^(V) there you find disorder and every evil practice.

¹⁷ But the wisdom that comes from heaven^(W) is first of all pure; then peace-loving,^(X) considerate, submissive, full of mercy^(Y) and good fruit, impartial and sincere.^{(Z) 18} Peacemakers^(AA) who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.^(AB)

Psalm 129

A song of ascents.