Old/New Testament

The Vision of the Lord’s Glory

1 In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Kebar, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.

² On the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of the captivity of King Jehoiachin, ³ the word of the Lord came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Kebar. And the hand of the Lord was on him there.

⁴ As I looked, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud with fire flashing forth continually, and a brightness was all around it, and in its midst something as glowing metal in the midst of the fire. ⁵ Also out of the midst came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: They had the likeness of a man. ⁶ Every one had four faces, and every one had four wings. ⁷ Their legs were straight and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf’s hoof. And they gleamed like the color of burnished bronze. ⁸ They had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides. As for the faces and wings of the four of them, ⁹ their wings were joined to one another. Their faces did not turn when they went. Each went straight forward.

¹⁰ As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man, and all four had the face of a lion on the right side, and the face of an ox on the left side, and the face of an eagle. ¹¹ Thus were their faces. And their wings were stretched upward. Two wings of every one were joined to one another, and two covered their bodies. ¹² Each went straight forward. Wherever the spirit was to go, they would go and not turn as they went. ¹³ As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire and like the appearance of lamps. It went up and down among the living creatures. And the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. ¹⁴ The living creatures ran to and fro as the appearance of a flash of lightning.

¹⁵ Now as I looked at the living creatures, one wheel was on the ground by the living creatures for each of the four faces. ¹⁶ The appearance of the wheels and their work was like the color of sparkling beryl. And all four of them had one likeness. And their appearance and their work was, as it were, a wheel in the middle of a wheel. ¹⁷ Whenever they went, they went in any of their four sides and did not turn as they went. ¹⁸ As for their rims, they were so high that they were dreadful. And the rims of all four of them were full of eyes all around.

¹⁹ Whenever the living creatures went, the wheels went with them. And whenever the living creatures were lifted up from the ground, the wheels also were lifted up. ²⁰ Wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go in that direction. And the wheels rose close beside them. For the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. ²¹ Whenever those went, these went. And whenever those stood still, these stood still. And whenever those rose from the ground, the wheels rose close beside them. For the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.

²² The likeness of the expanse over the heads of the living creatures was as the awesome gleam of crystal, stretched out over their heads above. ²³ Under the expanse their wings were stretched out straight, the one toward the other. Each one also had two wings which covered its body on the one side and the other. ²⁴ When they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of abundant waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the noise of tumult as the noise of an army camp. Whenever they stood still, they let down their wings.

²⁵ There was a voice from the expanse that was over their heads whenever they stood still and let down their wings. ²⁶ Above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone. And on the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man on it high up. ²⁷ Then I saw as glowing metal, as the appearance of fire all around within it, from the appearance of His loins and upward; and from the appearance of His loins and downward I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was a brightness around Him. ²⁸ As the appearance of the rainbow that is in the cloud on a day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around.

This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face and heard a voice of one speaking.

The Call of Ezekiel

2 Then He said to me: Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you! ² When He spoke to me, the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet. Then I heard Him speaking to me.

³ And He said to me: Son of man, I send you to the sons of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me. They and their fathers have transgressed against Me even to this very day. ⁴ And as for the impudent and obstinate children, I am sending you to them. And you shall say to them, “Thus says the Lord God.” ⁵ As for them, whether they listen or not (for they are a rebellious house), they shall know that there has been a prophet among them. ⁶ And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with you, and you dwell among scorpions. Do not be afraid of their words or be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. ⁷ You shall speak My words to them, whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious. ⁸ But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and eat what I give you.

⁹ When I looked, a hand was sent to me. And a scroll was in it. ¹⁰ And He spread it before me. And there was writing on the inside and on the outside, and written on it were words of lamentation and mourning and woe.

Faith

11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ² For by it the men of old obtained a good report.

³ By faith we understand that the universe was framed by the word of God, so that things that are seen were not made out of things which are visible.

⁴ By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain offered. Through this he was approved as righteous, with God testifying concerning his gifts. He still speaks through his faith, though he is dead.

⁵ By faith Enoch was taken to heaven so that he would not see death. He was not found, because God took him away. For before he was taken, he had this commendation, that he pleased God. ⁶ And without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

⁷ By faith Noah, being divinely warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to save his family, by which he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

⁸ By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out into a place which he would later receive as an inheritance. He went out not knowing where he was going. ⁹ By faith he dwelt in the promised land, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs of the same promise, ¹⁰ for he was looking for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. ¹¹ By faith Sarah herself also received the ability to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. ¹² Therefore from one man, who was as good as dead, sprang so many, a multitude as the stars of the sky and innumerable as the sand by the seashore.

¹³ These all died in faith not having received the promises, but having seen them from afar were assured of them, embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. ¹⁴ Those who say such things declare plainly that they are looking for a homeland. ¹⁵ And certainly, if they had been thinking of the country out of which they came, they might have had the opportunity to return. ¹⁶ But they desired a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

¹⁷ By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son. ¹⁸ Of him God said, “Through Isaac shall your seed be named.”^{[a] 19} He reasoned that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he indeed received him in a figurative sense.