English Standard Version ESV
The Message Bible MSG
1 Then I looked, and behold, on the expanse that was over the heads of the cherubim there appeared above them something like a sapphire, in appearance like a throne.
1
When I next looked, oh! Above the dome over the heads of the cherubim-angels was what looked like a throne, sky-blue, like a sapphire!
2 And he said to the man clothed in linen, "Go in among the whirling wheels underneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with burning coals from between the cherubim, and scatter them over the city."And he went in before my eyes.
2
God said to the man dressed in linen, "Enter the place of the wheels under the cherubim-angels. Fill your hands with burning coals from beneath the cherubim and scatter them over the city."
3 Now the cherubim were standing on the south side of the house, when the man went in, and a cloud filled the inner court.
3
The cherubim were standing on the south side of the Temple when the man entered. A cloud filled the inside courtyard.
4 And the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub to the threshold of the house, and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was filled with the brightness of the glory of the LORD.
4
Then the Glory of God ascended from the cherubim and moved to the threshold of the Temple. The cloud filled the Temple. Court and Temple were both filled with the blazing presence of the Glory of God.
5 And the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard as far as the outer court, like the voice of God Almighty when he speaks.
5
And the sound! The wings of the cherubim were audible all the way to the outer court - the sound of the voice was like The Strong God in thunder.
6 And when he commanded the man clothed in linen, "Take fire from between the whirling wheels, from between the cherubim," he went in and stood beside a wheel.
6
When God commanded the man dressed in linen, "Take fire from among the wheels, from between the cherubim," he went in and stood beside a wheel.
7 And a cherub stretched out his hand from between the cherubim to the fire that was between the cherubim, and took some of it and put it into the hands of the man clothed in linen, who took it and went out.
7
One of the cherubim reached into the fire, took some coals, and put them in the hands of the man dressed in linen. He took them and went out.
8 The cherubim appeared to have the form of a human hand under their wings.
8
Something that looked like a human hand could be seen under the wings of the cherubim.
9 And I looked, and behold, there were four wheels beside the cherubim, one beside each cherub, and the appearance of the wheels was like sparkling beryl.
9
And then I saw four wheels beside the cherubim, one beside each cherub. The wheels radiating were sparkling like diamonds in the sun.
10 And as for their appearance, the four had the same likeness, as if a wheel were within a wheel.
10
All four wheels looked alike, each like a wheel within a wheel.
11 When they went, they went in any of their four directionswithout turning as they went, but in whatever direction the front wheel faced, the others followed without turning as they went.
11
When they moved, they went in any of the four directions but in a perfectly straight line. Where the cherubim went, the wheels went straight ahead.
12 And their whole body, their rims, and their spokes, their wings, and the wheels were full of eyes all around--the wheels that the four of them had.
12
The cherubim were full of eyes in their backs, hands, and wings. The wheels likewise were full of eyes.
13 As for the wheels, they were called in my hearing "the whirling wheels."
13
I heard the wheels called "wheels within wheels."
14 And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of the cherub, and the second face was a human face, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
14
Each of the cherubim had four faces: the first, of an angel; the second, a human; the third, a lion; the fourth, an eagle.
15 And the cherubim mounted up. These were the living creatures that I saw by the Chebar canal.
15
Then the cherubim ascended. They were the same living creatures I had seen at the Kebar River.
16 And when the cherubim went, the wheels went beside them. And when the cherubim lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the wheels did not turn from beside them.
16
When the cherubim moved, the wheels beside them moved. When the cherubim spread their wings to take off from the ground, the wheels stayed right with them.
17 When they stood still, these stood still, and when they mounted up, these mounted up with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in them.
17
When the cherubim stopped, the wheels stopped. When the cherubim rose, the wheels rose, because the spirit of the living creatures was also in the wheels.
18 Then the glory of the LORD went out from the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim.
18
Then the Glory of God left the Temple entrance and hovered over the cherubim.
19 And the cherubim lifted up their wings and mounted up from the earth before my eyes as they went out, with the wheels beside them. And they stood at the entrance of the east gate of the house of the LORD, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them.
19
I watched as the cherubim spread their wings and left the ground, the wheels right with them. They stopped at the entrance of the east gate of the Temple. The Glory of the God of Israel was above them.
20 These were the living creatures that I saw underneath the God of Israel by the Chebar canal; and I knew that they were cherubim.
20
These were the same living creatures I had seen previously beneath the God of Israel at the Kebar River. I recognized them as cherubim.
21 Each had four faces, and each four wings, and underneath their wings the likeness of human hands.
21
Each had four faces and four wings. Under their wings was what looked like human hands.
22 And as for the likeness of their faces, they were the same faces whose appearance I had seen by the Chebar canal. Each one of them went straight forward.
22
Their faces looked exactly like those I had seen at the Kebar River. Each went straight ahead.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.