Ezekiel 10

• 1. As I looked, I saw what appeared to be a throne of blue sapphire above the crystal surface over the heads of the cherubim.
• 2. Then the LORD spoke to the man in linen clothing and said, "Go in between the whirling wheels beneath the cherubim, and take a handful of glowing coals and scatter them over the city." He did this as I watched.
• 3. The cherubim were standing at the south end of the Temple when the man went in, and the cloud of glory filled the inner courtyard.
• 4. Then 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 Temple courtyard glowed brightly with the glory of the LORD.
• 5. The moving wings of the cherubim sounded like the voice of God Almighty and could be heard clearly in the outer courtyard.
• 6. The 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.
• 7. Then 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.
• 8. (All the cherubim had what looked like human hands hidden beneath their wings.)
• 9. Each of the four cherubim had a wheel beside him, and the wheels sparkled like chrysolite.
• 10. All four wheels looked the same; each wheel had a second wheel turning crosswise within it.
• 11. The cherubim could move forward in any of the four directions they faced, without turning as they moved. They went straight in the direction in which their heads were turned, never turning aside.
• 12. Both 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.
• 13. I heard someone refer to the wheels as "the whirling wheels."
• 14. Each 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.
• 15. Then the cherubim rose upward. These were the same living beings I had seen beside the Kebar River.
• 16. When the cherubim moved, the wheels moved with them. When they rose into the air, the wheels stayed beside them, going with them as they flew.
• 17. When the cherubim stood still, the wheels also stopped, for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels.
• 18. Then the glory of the LORD moved from the door of the Temple and hovered above the cherubim.
• 19. And 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.
• 20. These 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,
• 21. for each had four faces and four wings and what looked like human hands under their wings.
• 22. Their faces, too, were just like the faces of the beings I had seen at the Kebar, and they traveled straight ahead, just as the others had.

Ezekiel 11

• 1. Then the Spirit lifted me and brought me over 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.
• 2. Then the Spirit said to me, "Son of man, these are the men who are responsible for the wicked counsel being given in this city.
• 3. They say to the people, `Is it not a good time to build houses? Our city is like an iron pot. Inside it we will be like meat--safe from all harm. '
• 4. Therefore, son of man, prophesy against them loudly and clearly."
• 5. Then 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: Is that what you are saying? Yes, I know it is, for I know every thought that comes into your minds.
• 6. You have murdered endlessly and filled your streets with the dead.
• 7. "Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: This city is an iron pot, but the victims of your injustice are the pieces of meat. And you are not safe, for I will soon drag you from the city.
• 8. I will expose you to the war you so greatly fear, says the Sovereign LORD.
• 9. I will drive you out of Jerusalem and hand you over to foreigners who will carry out my judgments against you.
• 10. You will be slaughtered all the way to the borders of Israel, and then you will know that I am the LORD.
• 11. No, this city will not be an iron pot for you, and you will not be the meat, safe inside. I will judge you even to the borders of Israel,
• 12. and you will know that I am the LORD. For you have refused to obey me; instead, you have copied the sins of the nations around you."
• 13. While I was still speaking, Pelatiah son of Benaiah suddenly died. Then I fell face down in the dust and cried out, "O Sovereign LORD, are you going to kill everyone in Israel?"
• 14. Then this message came to me from the LORD:
• 15. "Son of man, the people still left in Jerusalem are talking about their relatives in exile, saying, `They are far away from the LORD, so now he has given their land to us!'
• 16. Therefore, give the exiles this message from the Sovereign LORD: Although I have scattered you in the countries of the world, I will be a sanctuary to you during your time in exile.
• 17. I, the Sovereign LORD, will gather you back from the nations where you are scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel once again.
• 18. "When the people return to their homeland, they will remove every trace of their detestable idol worship.
• 19. And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their hearts of stone and give them tender hearts instead,
• 20. so they will obey my laws and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God.
• 21. But as for those who long for idols, I will repay them fully for their sins, says the Sovereign LORD."
• 22. Then 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.
• 23. Then the glory of the LORD went up from the city and stopped above the mountain to the east.
• 24. Afterward the Spirit of God carried me back again to Babylonia, to the Judeans in exile there. And so ended the vision of my visit to Jerusalem.
• 25. And I told the exiles everything the LORD had shown me.

Ezekiel 12

• 1. Again a message came to me from the LORD:
• 2. "Son of man, you live among rebels who could see the truth if they wanted to, but they don't want to. They could hear me if they would listen, but they won't listen because they are rebellious.
• 3. So now put on a demonstration to show them what it will be like to go off into exile. Pack whatever you can carry on your back and leave your home to go on a journey. Make your preparations in broad daylight so the people can see you, for perhaps they will even yet consider what this means, even though they are such rebels.
• 4. Bring your baggage outside during the day so they can watch you. Then as they are watching, leave your house in the evening, just as captives do when they begin a long march to distant lands.
• 5. Dig a hole through the wall while they are watching and carry your possessions out through it.
• 6. As they watch, lift your pack to your shoulders and walk away into the night. Cover your face and don't look around. All of these actions will be a sign for the people of Israel."
• 7. So 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 darkness with my pack on my shoulder.
• 8. The next morning this message came to me from the LORD:
• 9. "Son of man, these rebels, the people of Israel, have asked you what all this means.
• 10. Say to them, `This is what the Sovereign LORD says: These actions contain a message for Zedekiah in Jerusalem and for all the people of Israel.'
• 11. Then explain that your actions are a demonstration of what will soon happen to them, for they will be driven from their homes and sent away into exile.
• 12. "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 never see his homeland again.
• 13. Then I will spread out my net 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.
• 14. I will scatter his servants and guards to the four winds and send the sword after them.
• 15. And when I scatter them among the nations, they will know that I am the LORD.
• 16. But I will spare a few of them from death by war, famine, or disease, so they can confess to their captors about how wicked they have been. Then they will know that I am the LORD!"
• 17. Then this message came to me from the LORD:
• 18. "Son of man, tremble as you eat your food. Drink your water with fear, as if it were your last.
• 19. Give the people this message from the Sovereign LORD concerning those living in Israel and Jerusalem: They will eat their food with trembling and sip their tiny portions of water in utter despair, because their land will be stripped bare on account of their violence.
• 20. The cities will be destroyed and the farmland deserted. Then you will know that I am the LORD."
• 21. Again a message came to me from the LORD:
• 22. "Son of man, what is that proverb they quote in Israel: `Time passes, making a liar of every prophet'?
• 23. Give the people this message from the Sovereign LORD: 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!'
• 24. "Then you will see what becomes of all the false visions and misleading predictions about peace in Israel.
• 25. For I am the LORD! What I threaten always happens. There will be no more delays, you rebels of Israel! I will fulfill my threat of destruction in your own lifetime, says the Sovereign LORD."
• 26. Then this message came to me from the LORD:
• 27. "Son of man, the people of Israel are saying, `His visions won't come true for a long, long time.'
• 28. Therefore, give them this message from the Sovereign LORD: No more delay! I will now do everything I have threatened! I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!"

New Living Translation: 282 of 324 days.