Ezekiel 1-4; Psalms 31 - Prayer Tents

Ezekiel 1

A Vision of Living Beings

1On July 31 of my thirtieth year, while I was with the Judean exiles beside the Kebar River in Babylon, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.H7970H8141H7243H2568H2320H8432H1473H5104H3529H8064H6605H7200H4759H4302This happened during the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity.H2568H2320H2549H8141H4428H3112H15463(The Lord gave this message to Ezekiel son of Buzi, a priest, beside the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians, and he felt the hand of the Lord take hold of him.)H1697H3068H3168H3548H1121H941H776H3778H5104H3529H3027H30684As I looked, I saw a great storm coming from the north, driving before it a huge cloud that flashed with lightning and shone with brilliant light. There was fire inside the cloud, and in the middle of the fire glowed something like gleaming amber.H7200H7307H5591H935H6828H1419H6051H784H3947H5051H5439H8432H5869H2830H8432H7845From the center of the cloud came four living beings that looked human,H8432H1823H702H2416H4758H2007H1823H1206except that each had four faces and four wings.H259H702H6440H259H702H36717Their legs were straight, and their feet had hooves like those of a calf and shone like burnished bronze.H7272H3477H7272H3709H7272H3709H5695H7272H5340H5869H7044H51788Under each of their four wings I could see human hands. So each of the four beings had four faces and four wings.H3027H120H3671H702H7253H702H6440H36719The wings of each living being touched the wings of the beings beside it. Each one moved straight forward in any direction without turning around.H3671H2266H802H269H5437H3212H3212H376H5676H644010Each had a human face in the front, the face of a lion on the right side, the face of an ox on the left side, and the face of an eagle at the back.H1823H6440H702H6440H120H6440H738H3225H702H6440H7794H8040H702H6440H540411Each had two pairs of outstretched wings—one pair stretched out to touch the wings of the living beings on either side of it, and the other pair covered its body.H6440H3671H6504H4605H8147H376H2266H376H376H8147H3680H147212They went in whatever direction the spirit chose, and they moved straight forward in any direction without turning around.H3212H376H5676H6440H7307H3212H3212H5437H321213The living beings looked like bright coals of fire or brilliant torches, and lightning seemed to flash back and forth among them.H1823H2416H4758H1197H1513H784H4758H3940H1980H2416H784H5051H784H3318H130014And the living beings darted to and fro like flashes of lightning.H2416H7519H7725H4758H96515As I looked at these beings, I saw four wheels touching the ground beside them, one wheel belonging to each.H7200H2416H259H212H776H681H2416H702H644016The wheels sparkled as if made of beryl. All four wheels looked alike and were made the same; each wheel had a second wheel turning crosswise within it.H4758H212H4639H5869H8658H702H259H1823H4758H4639H212H8432H21217The beings could move in any of the four directions they faced, without turning as they moved.H3212H3212H702H7253H5437H321218The rims of the four wheels were tall and frightening, and they were covered with eyes all around.H1354H1363H3374H1354H4392H5869H5439H70219When the living beings moved, the wheels moved with them. When they flew upward, the wheels went up, too.H2416H3212H212H3212H681H2416H5375H776H212H537520The spirit of the living beings was in the wheels. So wherever the spirit went, the wheels and the living beings also went.H7307H3212H3212H7307H3212H212H5375H5980H7307H2416H21221When the beings moved, the wheels moved. When the beings stopped, the wheels stopped. When the beings flew upward, the wheels rose up, for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels.H3212H3212H5975H5975H5375H776H212H5375H5980H7307H2416H21222Spread out above them was a surface like the sky, glittering like crystal.H1823H7549H7218H2416H5869H3372H7140H5186H7218H460523Beneath this surface the wings of each living being stretched out to touch the others’ wings, and each had two wings covering its body.H7549H3671H3477H802H269H376H8147H3680H2007H376H8147H3680H2007H147224As they flew, their wings sounded to me like waves crashing against the shore or like the voice of the Almighty or like the shouting of a mighty army. When they stopped, they let down their wings.H3212H8085H6963H3671H6963H7227H4325H6963H7706H6963H1999H6963H4264H5975H7503H367125As they stood with wings lowered, a voice spoke from beyond the crystal surface above them.H6963H7549H7218H5975H7503H367126Above this surface was something that looked like a throne made of blue lapis lazuli. And on this throne high above was a figure whose appearance resembled a man.H4605H7549H7218H1823H3678H4758H5601H68H1823H3678H1823H4758H120H460527From what appeared to be his waist up, he looked like gleaming amber, flickering like a fire. And from his waist down, he looked like a burning flame, shining with splendor.H7200H5869H2830H4758H784H5439H1004H4758H4975H4605H4758H4975H4295H7200H4758H784H5051H543928All around him was a glowing halo, like a rainbow shining in the clouds on a rainy day. This is what the glory of the Lord looked like to me. When I saw it, I fell face down on the ground, and I heard someone’s voice speaking to me.H4758H7198H6051H3117H1653H4758H5051H5439H4758H1823H3519H3068H7200H5307H6440H8085H6963H1696

Ezekiel 2

Ezekiel’s Call and Commission

2“Stand up, son of man,” said the voice. “I want to speak with you.”H559H1121H120H5975H7272H1696 2The Spirit came into me as he spoke, and he set me on my feet. I listened carefully to his words.H7307H935H1696H5975H7272H8085H1696 3“Son of man,” he said, “I am sending you to the nation of Israel, a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me. They and their ancestors have been rebelling against me to this very day.H559H1121H120H7971H1121H3478H4775H1471H4775H1H6586H6106H3117 4They are a stubborn and hard-hearted people. But I am sending you to say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says!’H7186H6440H1121H2389H3820H7971H559H559H136H3069 5And whether they listen or refuse to listen—for remember, they are rebels—at least they will know they have had a prophet among them.H8085H2308H4805H1004H3045H5030H8432 6“Son of man, do not fear them or their words. Don’t be afraid even though their threats surround you like nettles and briers and stinging scorpions. Do not be dismayed by their dark scowls, even though they are rebels.H1121H120H3372H3372H1697H5621H5544H3427H6137H3372H1697H2865H6440H4805H1004 7You must give them my messages whether they listen or not. But they won’t listen, for they are completely rebellious!H1696H1697H8085H2308H4805 8Son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not join them in their rebellion. Open your mouth, and eat what I give you.”H1121H120H8085H1696H1961H4805H4805H1004H6475H6310H398H5414 9Then I looked and saw a hand reaching out to me. It held a scroll,H7200H3027H7971H4039H5612 10which he unrolled. And I saw that both sides were covered with funeral songs, words of sorrow, and pronouncements of doom.H6566H6440H3789H6440H268H3789H7015H1899H1958

Ezekiel 3

3The voice said to me, “Son of man, eat what I am giving you—eat this scroll! Then go and give its message to the people of Israel.”H559H1121H120H398H4672H398H4039H3212H1696H1004H34782So I opened my mouth, and he fed me the scroll.H6605H6310H398H40393“Fill your stomach with this,” he said. And when I ate it, it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.H559H1121H120H990H398H4390H4578H4039H5414H398H6310H1706H49664Then he said, “Son of man, go to the people of Israel and give them my messages.H559H1121H120H3212H935H1004H3478H1696H16975I am not sending you to a foreign people whose language you cannot understand.H7971H5971H6012H8193H3515H3956H1004H34786No, I am not sending you to people with strange and difficult speech. If I did, they would listen!H7227H5971H6012H8193H3515H3956H1697H8085H7971H80857But the people of Israel won’t listen to you any more than they listen to me! For the whole lot of them are hard-hearted and stubborn.H1004H3478H14H8085H14H8085H1004H3478H2389H4696H7186H38208But look, I have made you as obstinate and hard-hearted as they are.H5414H6440H2389H5980H6440H4696H2389H5980H46969I have made your forehead as hard as the hardest rock! So don’t be afraid of them or fear their angry looks, even though they are rebels.”H8068H2389H6864H5414H4696H3372H2865H6440H4805H100410Then he added, “Son of man, let all my words sink deep into your own heart first. Listen to them carefully for yourself.H559H1121H120H1697H1696H3947H3824H8085H24111Then go to your people in exile and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says!’ Do this whether they listen to you or not.”H3212H935H1473H1121H5971H1696H559H559H136H3069H8085H230812Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard a loud rumbling sound behind me. (May the glory of the Lord be praised in his place!)H7307H5375H8085H310H6963H1419H7494H1288H3519H3068H472513It was the sound of the wings of the living beings as they brushed against each other and the rumbling of their wheels beneath them.H6963H3671H2416H5401H802H269H6963H212H5980H6963H1419H749414The Spirit lifted me up and took me away. I went in bitterness and turmoil, but the Lord’s hold on me was strong.H7307H5375H3947H3212H4751H2534H7307H3027H3068H238815Then I came to the colony of Judean exiles in Tel-abib, beside the Kebar River. I was overwhelmed and sat among them for seven days.H935H1473H8512H3427H5104H3529H3427H3427H3427H8074H8432H7651H3117

A Watchman for Israel

16After seven days the Lord gave me a message. He said,H7097H7651H3117H1697H3068H55917“Son of man, I have appointed you as a watchman for Israel. Whenever you receive a message from me, warn people immediately.H1121H120H5414H6822H1004H3478H8085H1697H6310H209418If I warn the wicked, saying, ‘You are under the penalty of death,’ but you fail to deliver the warning, they will die in their sins. And I will hold you responsible for their deaths.H559H7563H4191H4191H2094H1696H2094H7563H7563H1870H2421H7563H4191H5771H1818H1245H302719If you warn them and they refuse to repent and keep on sinning, they will die in their sins. But you will have saved yourself because you obeyed me.H2094H7563H7725H7562H7563H1870H4191H5771H5337H531520“If righteous people turn away from their righteous behavior and ignore the obstacles I put in their way, they will die. And if you do not warn them, they will die in their sins. None of their righteous acts will be remembered, and I will hold you responsible for their deaths.H7725H6662H7725H6664H6213H5766H5414H4383H6440H4191H2094H4191H2403H6666H6213H2142H1818H1245H302721But if you warn righteous people not to sin and they listen to you and do not sin, they will live, and you will have saved yourself, too.”H2094H6662H6662H2398H2398H2421H2421H2094H5337H531522Then the Lord took hold of me and said, “Get up and go out into the valley, and I will speak to you there.”H3027H3068H559H6965H3318H1237H169623So I got up and went, and there I saw the glory of the Lord, just as I had seen in my first vision by the Kebar River. And I fell face down on the ground.H6965H3318H1237H3519H3068H5975H3519H7200H5104H3529H5307H644024Then the Spirit came into me and set me on my feet. He spoke to me and said, “Go to your house and shut yourself in.H7307H935H5975H7272H1696H559H935H5462H8432H100425There, son of man, you will be tied with ropes so you cannot go out among the people.H1121H120H5414H5688H631H3318H843226And I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you will be speechless and unable to rebuke them, for they are rebels.H3956H1692H2441H481H376H3198H4805H100427But when I give you a message, I will loosen your tongue and let you speak. Then you will say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says!’ Those who choose to listen will listen, but those who refuse will refuse, for they are rebels.H1696H854H6605H6310H559H559H136H3069H8085H8085H2310H2308H4805H1004

Ezekiel 4

A Sign of the Coming Siege

4“And now, son of man, take a large clay brick and set it down in front of you. Then draw a map of the city of Jerusalem on it.H1121H120H3947H3843H5414H6440H2710H5892H33892Show the city under siege. Build a wall around it so no one can escape. Set up the enemy camp, and surround the city with siege ramps and battering rams.H5414H4692H1129H1785H8210H5550H5414H4264H7760H3733H54393Then take an iron griddle and place it between you and the city. Turn toward the city and demonstrate how harsh the siege will be against Jerusalem. This will be a warning to the people of Israel.H3947H1270H4227H5414H7023H1270H5892H3559H6440H4692H6696H226H1004H34784“Now lie on your left side and place the sins of Israel on yourself. You are to bear their sins for the number of days you lie there on your side.H7901H8042H6654H7760H5771H1004H3478H4557H3117H7901H5375H57715I am requiring you to bear Israel’s sins for 390 days—one day for each year of their sin.H5414H8141H5771H4557H3117H7969H3967H8673H3117H5375H5771H1004H34786After that, turn over and lie on your right side for 40 days—one day for each year of Judah’s sin.H3615H428H7901H8145H3233H3227H6654H5375H5771H1004H3063H705H3117H5414H3117H3117H8141H81417“Meanwhile, keep staring at the siege of Jerusalem. Lie there with your arm bared and prophesy her destruction.H3559H6440H4692H3389H2220H2834H50128I will tie you up with ropes so you won’t be able to turn from side to side until the days of your siege have been completed.H5414H5688H2015H6654H6654H3615H3117H46929“Now go and get some wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and emmer wheat, and mix them together in a storage jar. Use them to make bread for yourself during the 390 days you will be lying on your side.H3947H2406H8184H6321H5742H1764H3698H5414H259H3627H6213H3899H4557H3117H7901H6654H7969H3967H8673H3117H39810Ration this out to yourself, eight ounces of food for each day, and eat it at set times.H3978H398H4946H6242H8255H3117H6256H6256H39811Then measure out a jar of water for each day, and drink it at set times.H8354H4325H4884H8345H1969H6256H6256H835412Prepare and eat this food as you would barley cakes. While all the people are watching, bake it over a fire using dried human dung as fuel and then eat the bread.”H398H8184H5692H5746H1561H6627H120H586913Then the Lord said, “This is how Israel will eat defiled bread in the Gentile lands to which I will banish them!”H3068H559H1121H3478H398H2931H3899H1471H508014Then I said, “O Sovereign Lord, must I be defiled by using human dung? For I have never been defiled before. From the time I was a child until now I have never eaten any animal that died of sickness or was killed by other animals. I have never eaten any meat forbidden by the law.”H559H162H136H3069H5315H2930H5271H398H5038H2966H935H6292H1320H631015“All right,” the Lord said. “You may bake your bread with cow dung instead of human dung.”H559H7200H5414H1241H6832H6832H120H1561H6213H389916Then he told me, “Son of man, I will make food very scarce in Jerusalem. It will be weighed out with great care and eaten fearfully. The water will be rationed out drop by drop, and the people will drink it with dismay.H559H1121H120H7665H4294H3899H3389H398H3899H4948H1674H8354H4325H4884H807817Lacking food and water, people will look at one another in terror, and they will waste away under their punishment.H2637H3899H4325H8074H376H251H4743H5771

Psalms 31

31[For the choir director: A psalm of David.] O LORD, I have come to you for protection; don't let me be disgraced. Save me, for you do what is right.H5329H4210H1732H3068H2620H408H5769H954H6403H66662Turn your ear to listen to me; rescue me quickly. Be my rock of protection, a fortress where I will be safe.H5186H241H5337H4120H4581H6697H1004H4686H34673You are my rock and my fortress. For the honor of your name, lead me out of this danger.H5553H4686H8034H5148H50954Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me, for I find protection in you alone.H3318H7568H2098H2934H45815I entrust my spirit into your hand. Rescue me, LORD, for you are a faithful God.H3027H6485H7307H6299H3068H410H5716I hate those who worship worthless idols. I trust in the LORD.H8130H8104H7723H1892H982H30687I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul.H1523H8055H2617H7200H6040H3045H5315H68698You have not handed me over to my enemies but have set me in a safe place.H5462H3027H341H5975H7272H48009Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am in distress. Tears blur my eyes. My body and soul are withering away.H2603H3068H6887H5869H6244H3708H5315H99010I am dying from grief; my years are shortened by sadness. Sin has drained my strength; I am wasting away from within.H2416H3615H3015H8141H585H3581H3782H5771H6106H624411I am scorned by all my enemies and despised by my neighbors—even my friends are afraid to come near me. When they see me on the street, they run the other way.H2781H6887H3966H7934H6343H3045H7200H2351H507412I am ignored as if I were dead, as if I were a broken pot.H7911H4191H3820H6H362713I have heard the many rumors about me, and I am surrounded by terror. My enemies conspire against me, plotting to take my life.H8085H1681H7227H4032H5439H3245H3162H2161H3947H531514But I am trusting you, O LORD, saying, "You are my God!"H982H3068H559H43015My future is in your hands. Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly.H6256H3027H5337H3027H341H729116Let your favor shine on your servant. In your unfailing love, rescue me.H6440H215H5650H3467H261717Don't let me be disgraced, O LORD, for I call out to you for help. Let the wicked be disgraced; let them lie silent in the grave.H954H3068H7121H7563H954H1826H758518Silence their lying lips—those proud and arrogant lips that accuse the godly.H8267H8193H481H1696H6277H1346H937H666219How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world.H7227H2898H6845H3373H6466H2620H1121H12020You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from those who conspire against them. You shelter them in your presence, far from accusing tongues.H5641H5643H6440H7407H376H6845H5521H7379H395621Praise the LORD, for he has shown me the wonders of his unfailing love. He kept me safe when my city was under attack.H1288H3068H6381H2617H4692H589222In panic I cried out, "I am cut off from the LORD!" But you heard my cry for mercy and answered my call for help.H559H2648H1629H5048H5869H403H8085H6963H8469H776823Love the LORD, all you godly ones! For the LORD protects those who are loyal to him, but he harshly punishes the arrogant.H157H3068H2623H3068H5341H539H3499H7999H1346H621324So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the LORD!H2388H553H3824H3176H3068