9Then the Lord thundered, “Bring on the men appointed to punish the city! Tell them to bring their weapons with them!”H7121H241H1419H6963H559H6486H5892H7126H376H4892H3627H30272Six men soon appeared from the upper gate that faces north, each carrying a deadly weapon in his hand. With them was a man dressed in linen, who carried a writer’s case at his side. They all went into the Temple courtyard and stood beside the bronze altar.H8337H582H935H1870H5945H8179H6437H6828H376H4660H3627H3027H259H376H8432H3847H906H5608H7083H4975H935H5975H681H5178H41963Then the glory of the God of Israel rose up from between the cherubim, where it had rested, and moved to the entrance of the Temple. And the Lord called to the man dressed in linen who was carrying the writer’s case.H3519H430H3478H5927H3742H4670H1004H7121H376H3847H906H5608H7083H49754He said to him, “Walk through the streets of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of all who weep and sigh because of the detestable sins being committed in their city.”H3068H559H5674H8432H5892H8432H3389H8427H8420H4696H582H584H602H8441H6213H84325Then I heard the Lord say to the other men, “Follow him through the city and kill everyone whose forehead is not marked. Show no mercy; have no pity!H428H559H241H5674H310H5892H5221H5869H2347H25506Kill them all—old and young, girls and women and little children. But do not touch anyone with the mark. Begin right here at the Temple.” So they began by killing the seventy leaders.H2026H4889H2205H970H1330H2945H802H5066H376H8420H2490H4720H2490H2205H582H6440H10047“Defile the Temple!” the Lord commanded. “Fill its courtyards with corpses. Go!” So they went and began killing throughout the city.H559H2930H1004H4390H2691H2491H3318H3318H5221H58928While they were out killing, I was all alone. I fell face down on the ground and cried out, “O Sovereign Lord! Will your fury against Jerusalem wipe out everyone left in Israel?”H5221H7604H5307H6440H2199H559H162H136H3069H7843H7611H3478H8210H2534H33899Then he said to me, “The sins of the people of Israel and Judah are very, very great. The entire land is full of murder; the city is filled with injustice. They are saying, ‘The Lord doesn’t see it! The Lord has abandoned the land!’H559H5771H1004H3478H3063H3966H3966H1419H776H4390H1818H5892H4390H4297H559H3068H5800H776H3068H720010So I will not spare them or have any pity on them. I will fully repay them for all they have done.”H5869H2347H2550H5414H1870H721811Then the man in linen clothing, who carried the writer’s case, reported back and said, “I have done as you commanded.”H376H3847H906H7083H4975H7725H1697H559H6213H6680
Ezekiel 10
The Lord’s Glory Leaves the Temple
10In my vision I saw what appeared to be a throne of blue lapis lazuli above the crystal surface over the heads of the cherubim.H7200H7549H7218H3742H7200H5601H68H4758H1823H36782Then the Lord spoke to the man in linen clothing and said, “Go between the whirling wheels beneath the cherubim, and take a handful of burning coals and scatter them over the city.” He did this as I watched.H559H376H3847H906H559H935H996H1534H3742H4390H2651H1513H784H996H3742H2236H5892H935H58693The cherubim were standing at the south end of the Temple when the man went in, and the cloud of glory filled the inner courtyard.H3742H5975H3225H1004H376H935H6051H4390H6442H26914Then the glory of the Lord rose up from above the cherubim and went over to the door of the Temple. The Temple was filled with this cloud of glory, and the courtyard glowed brightly with the glory of the Lord.H3519H3068H7311H3742H4670H1004H1004H4390H6051H2691H4390H5051H3068H35195The moving wings of the cherubim sounded like the voice of God Almighty and could be heard even in the outer courtyard.H6963H3742H3671H8085H2435H2691H6963H7706H410H16966The Lord said to the man in linen clothing, “Go between the cherubim and take some burning coals from between the wheels.” So the man went in and stood beside one of the wheels.H6680H376H3847H906H559H3947H784H1534H3742H935H5975H681H2127Then one of the cherubim reached out his hand and took some live coals from the fire burning among them. He put the coals into the hands of the man in linen clothing, and the man took them and went out.H3742H7971H3027H3742H784H3742H5375H5414H2651H3847H906H3947H33188(All the cherubim had what looked like human hands under their wings.)H7200H3742H8403H120H3027H36719I looked, and each of the four cherubim had a wheel beside him, and the wheels sparkled like beryl.H7200H702H212H681H3742H259H212H681H259H3742H259H212H681H259H3742H4758H212H5869H8658H6810All four wheels looked alike and were made the same; each wheel had a second wheel turning crosswise within it.H4758H702H259H1823H212H8432H21211The cherubim could move in any of the four directions they faced, without turning as they moved. They went straight in the direction they faced, never turning aside.H3212H3212H702H7253H5437H3212H4725H7218H6437H3212H310H5437H321212Both the cherubim and the wheels were covered with eyes. The cherubim had eyes all over their bodies, including their hands, their backs, and their wings.H1320H1354H3027H3671H212H4392H5869H5439H212H70213I heard someone refer to the wheels as “the whirling wheels.”H212H7121H241H153414Each of the four cherubim had four faces: the first was the face of an ox, the second was a human face, the third was the face of a lion, and the fourth was the face of an eagle.H259H702H6440H259H6440H6440H3742H8145H6440H6440H120H7992H6440H738H7243H6440H540415Then the cherubim rose upward. These were the same living beings I had seen beside the Kebar River.H3742H7426H2416H7200H5104H352916When the cherubim moved, the wheels moved with them. When they lifted their wings to fly, the wheels stayed beside them.H3742H3212H212H3212H681H3742H5375H3671H7311H776H212H1992H5437H68117When the cherubim stopped, the wheels stopped. When they flew upward, the wheels rose up, for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels.H5975H5975H7311H7426H7307H241618Then the glory of the Lord moved out from the door of the Temple and hovered above the cherubim.H3519H3068H3318H4670H1004H5975H374219And as I watched, the cherubim flew with their wheels to the east gate of the Lord’s Temple. And the glory of the God of Israel hovered above them.H3742H5375H3671H7426H776H5869H3318H212H5980H5975H6607H6931H8179H3068H1004H3519H430H3478H460520These were the same living beings I had seen beneath the God of Israel when I was by the Kebar River. I knew they were cherubim,H2416H7200H430H3478H5104H3529H3045H374221for each had four faces and four wings and what looked like human hands under their wings.H259H702H6440H259H259H702H3671H1823H3027H120H367122And their faces were just like the faces of the beings I had seen at the Kebar, and they traveled straight ahead, just as the others had.H1823H6440H1992H6440H7200H5104H3529H4758H3212H376H5676H6440
Ezekiel 11
Judgment on Israel’s Leaders
11Then the Spirit lifted me and brought me to the east gateway of the Lord’s Temple, where I saw twenty-five prominent men of the city. Among them were Jaazaniah son of Azzur and Pelatiah son of Benaiah, who were leaders among the people.H7307H5375H935H6931H8179H3068H1004H6437H6921H6607H8179H2568H6242H376H8432H7200H2970H1121H5809H6410H1121H1141H8269H59712The Spirit said to me, “Son of man, these are the men who are planning evil and giving wicked counsel in this city.H559H1121H120H582H2803H205H3289H7451H6098H58923They say to the people, ‘Is it not a good time to build houses? This city is like an iron pot. We are safe inside it like meat in a pot.’H559H7138H1129H1004H5518H13204Therefore, son of man, prophesy against them loudly and clearly.”H5012H5012H1121H1205Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon me, and he told me to say, “This is what the Lord says to the people of Israel: I know what you are saying, for I know every thought that comes into your minds.H7307H3068H5307H559H559H559H3068H559H1004H3478H3045H4609H73076You have murdered many in this city and filled its streets with the dead.H7235H2491H5892H4390H2351H24917“Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: This city is an iron pot all right, but the pieces of meat are the victims of your injustice. As for you, I will soon drag you from this pot.H559H136H3069H2491H7760H8432H1320H5518H3318H84328I will bring on you the sword of war you so greatly fear, says the Sovereign Lord.H3372H2719H935H2719H5002H136H30699I will drive you out of Jerusalem and hand you over to foreigners, who will carry out my judgments against you.H3318H8432H5414H3027H2114H6213H820110You will be slaughtered all the way to the borders of Israel. I will execute judgment on you, and you will know that I am the Lord.H5307H2719H8199H1366H3478H3045H306811No, this city will not be an iron pot for you, and you will not be like meat safe inside it. I will judge you even to the borders of Israel,H5518H1320H8432H8199H1366H347812and you will know that I am the Lord. For you have refused to obey my decrees and regulations; instead, you have copied the standards of the nations around you.”H3045H3068H1980H2706H6213H4941H6213H4941H1471H543913While I was still prophesying, Pelatiah son of Benaiah suddenly died. Then I fell face down on the ground and cried out, “O Sovereign Lord, are you going to kill everyone in Israel?”H5012H6410H1121H1141H4191H5307H6440H2199H1419H6963H559H162H136H3069H6213H3617H7611H3478
Hope for Exiled Israel
14Then this message came to me from the Lord:H1697H3068H55915“Son of man, the people still left in Jerusalem are talking about you and your relatives and all the people of Israel who are in exile. They are saying, ‘Those people are far away from the Lord, so now he has given their land to us!’H1121H120H251H251H582H1353H1004H3478H3427H3389H559H7368H3068H776H5414H418116“Therefore, tell the exiles, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Although I have scattered you in the countries of the world, I will be a sanctuary to you during your time in exile.H559H559H136H3069H7368H1471H6327H776H4592H4720H776H93517I, the Sovereign Lord, will gather you back from the nations where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel once again.’H559H559H136H3069H6908H5971H622H776H6327H5414H127H347818“When the people return to their homeland, they will remove every trace of their vile images and detestable idols.H935H5493H8251H844119And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart,H5414H259H3820H5414H2319H7307H7130H5493H68H3820H1320H5414H3820H132020so they will obey my decrees and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God.H3212H2708H8104H4941H6213H5971H43021But as for those who long for vile images and detestable idols, I will repay them fully for their sins. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”H3820H1980H3820H8251H8441H5414H1870H7218H5002H136H3069
The Lord’s Glory Leaves Jerusalem
22Then the cherubim lifted their wings and rose into the air with their wheels beside them, and the glory of the God of Israel hovered above them.H3742H5375H3671H212H5980H3519H430H3478H460523Then the glory of the Lord went up from the city and stopped above the mountain to the east.H3519H3068H5927H8432H5892H5975H2022H6924H589224Afterward the Spirit of God carried me back again to Babylonia, to the people in exile there. And so ended the vision of my visit to Jerusalem.H7307H5375H935H4758H7307H430H3778H1473H4758H7200H592725And I told the exiles everything the Lord had shown me.H1696H1473H1697H3068H7200
Ezekiel 12
Signs of the Coming Exile
12Again a message came to me from the Lord:H1697H3068H5592“Son of man, you live among rebels who have eyes but refuse to see. They have ears but refuse to hear. For they are a rebellious people.H1121H120H3427H8432H4805H1004H5869H7200H7200H241H8085H8085H4805H10043“So now, son of man, pretend you are being sent into exile. Pack the few items an exile could carry, and leave your home to go somewhere else. Do this right in front of the people so they can see you. For perhaps they will pay attention to this, even though they are such rebels.H1121H120H6213H3627H1473H1540H3119H5869H1540H4725H312H4725H5869H7200H4805H10044Bring your baggage outside during the day so they can watch you. Then in the evening, as they are watching, leave your house as captives do when they begin a long march to distant lands.H3318H3627H3119H5869H3627H1473H3318H6153H5869H4161H14735Dig a hole through the wall while they are watching and go out through it.H2864H7023H5869H33186As they watch, lift your pack to your shoulders and walk away into the night. Cover your face so you cannot see the land you are leaving. For I have made you a sign for the people of Israel.”H5869H5375H3802H3318H5939H3680H6440H7200H776H5414H4159H1004H34787So I did as I was told. In broad daylight I brought my pack outside, filled with the things I might carry into exile. Then in the evening while the people looked on, I dug through the wall with my hands and went out into the night with my pack on my shoulder.H6213H6680H3318H3627H3119H3627H1473H6153H2864H7023H3027H3318H5939H5375H3802H58698The next morning this message came to me from the Lord:H1242H1697H3068H5599“Son of man, these rebels, the people of Israel, have asked you what all this means.H1121H120H1004H3478H4805H1004H559H621310Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: These actions contain a message for King Zedekiah in Jerusalem and for all the people of Israel.’H559H559H136H3069H4853H5387H3389H1004H3478H843211Explain that your actions are a sign to show what will soon happen to them, for they will be driven into exile as captives.H559H4159H6213H6213H1473H3212H762812“Even Zedekiah will leave Jerusalem at night through a hole in the wall, taking only what he can carry with him. He will cover his face, and his eyes will not see the land he is leaving.H5387H8432H5375H3802H5939H3318H2864H7023H3318H3680H6440H3282H7200H776H586913Then I will throw my net over him and capture him in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Babylonians, though he will never see it, and he will die there.H7568H6566H8610H4686H935H894H776H3778H7200H419114I will scatter his servants and warriors to the four winds and send the sword after them.H2219H7307H5439H5828H102H7324H2719H31015And when I scatter them among the nations, they will know that I am the Lord.H3045H3068H6327H1471H2219H77616But I will spare a few of them from death by war, famine, or disease, so they can confess all their detestable sins to their captors. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”H3498H4557H582H2719H7458H1698H5608H8441H1471H935H3045H306817Then this message came to me from the Lord:H1697H3068H55918“Son of man, tremble as you eat your food. Shake with fear as you drink your water.H1121H120H398H3899H7494H8354H4325H7269H167419Tell the people, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says concerning those living in Israel and Jerusalem: They will eat their food with trembling and sip their water in despair, for their land will be stripped bare because of their violence.H559H5971H127H559H136H3069H3427H3389H776H3478H398H3899H1674H8354H4325H8078H776H3456H4393H2555H342720The cities will be destroyed and the farmland made desolate. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”H5892H3427H2717H776H8077H3045H3068
A New Proverb for Israel
21Again a message came to me from the Lord:H1697H3068H55922“Son of man, you’ve heard that proverb they quote in Israel: ‘Time passes, and prophecies come to nothing.’H1121H120H4912H127H3478H559H3117H748H2377H623Tell the people, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will put an end to this proverb, and you will soon stop quoting it.’ Now give them this new proverb to replace the old one: ‘The time has come for every prophecy to be fulfilled!’H559H559H136H3069H4912H7673H4911H3478H1696H3117H7126H1697H237724“There will be no more false visions and flattering predictions in Israel.H7723H2377H2509H4738H8432H1004H347825For I am the Lord! If I say it, it will happen. There will be no more delays, you rebels of Israel. I will fulfill my threat of destruction in your own lifetime. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”H3068H1696H1697H1696H6213H4900H3117H4805H1004H1696H1697H6213H5002H136H306926Then this message came to me from the Lord:H1697H3068H55927“Son of man, the people of Israel are saying, ‘He’s talking about the distant future. His visions won’t come true for a long, long time.’H1121H120H1004H3478H559H2377H2372H7227H3117H5012H6256H735028Therefore, tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: No more delay! I will now do everything I have threatened. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!’”H559H559H136H3069H1697H4900H1697H1696H6213H5002H136H3069
Psalms 33
33Let the godly sing for joy to the LORD; it is fitting for the pure to praise him.H7442H3068H6662H8416H5000H34772Praise the LORD with melodies on the lyre; make music for him on the ten-stringed harp.H3034H3068H3658H2167H5035H62183Sing a new song of praise to him; play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy.H7891H2319H7892H5059H3190H86434For the word of the LORD holds true, and we can trust everything he does.H1697H3068H3477H4639H5305He loves whatever is just and good; the unfailing love of the LORD fills the earth.H157H6666H4941H776H4390H2617H30686The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born.H1697H3068H8064H6213H6635H7307H63107He assigned the sea its boundaries and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs.H3664H4325H3220H5067H5414H8415H2148Let the whole world fear the LORD, and let everyone stand in awe of him.H776H3372H3068H3427H8398H14819For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command.H559H6680H597510The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes.H3068H6331H6098H1471H6331H5106H4284H5971H510611But the LORD's plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken.H6098H3068H5975H5769H4284H3820H1755H175512What joy for the nation whose God is the LORD, whose people he has chosen as his inheritance.H835H1471H430H3068H5971H977H515913The LORD looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race.H3068H5027H8064H7200H1121H12014From his throne he observes all who live on the earth.H4349H3427H7688H3427H77615He made their hearts, so he understands everything they do.H3335H3820H3162H995H463916The best-equipped army cannot save a king, nor is great strength enough to save a warrior.H4428H3467H7230H2428H1368H5337H7230H358117Don't count on your warhorse to give you victory—for all its strength, it cannot save you.H5483H8267H8668H4422H7230H242818But the LORD watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love.H5869H3068H3373H3176H261719He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine.H5337H5315H4194H2421H745820We put our hope in the LORD. He is our help and our shield.H5315H2442H3068H5828H404321In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.H3820H8055H982H6944H803422Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in you alone.H2617H3068H3176
Dublin, OH
and could be heard even in the outer courtyard.H6963
