New Revised Standard NRS
The Message Bible MSG
1 Then I looked, and above the dome that was over the heads of the cherubim there appeared above them something like a sapphire, in form resembling 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 He said to the man clothed in linen, "Go within the wheelwork underneath the cherubim; fill your hands with burning coals from among the cherubim, and scatter them over the city." He went in as I looked on.
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 Then the glory of the Lord rose up from the cherub to the threshold of the house; the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of 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 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 When he commanded the man clothed in linen, "Take fire from within the wheelwork, from among 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 among the cherubim to the fire that was among the cherubim, 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 I looked, and there were four wheels beside the cherubim, one beside each cherub; and the appearance of the wheels was like gleaming 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 looked alike, something like a wheel within a wheel.
10
All four wheels looked alike, each like a wheel within a wheel.
11 When they moved, they moved in any of the four directions without veering as they moved; but in whatever direction the front wheel faced, the others followed without veering as they moved.
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 Their entire body, their rims, their spokes, their wings, and the wheels—the wheels of the four of them—were full of eyes all around.
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 wheelwork."
13
I heard the wheels called "wheels within wheels."
14 Each one had four faces: the first face was that of the cherub, the second face was that of a human being, the third that of a lion, and the fourth that 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 The cherubim rose up. These were the living creatures that I saw by the river Chebar.
15
Then the cherubim ascended. They were the same living creatures I had seen at the Kebar River.
16 When the cherubim moved, the wheels moved beside them; and when the cherubim lifted up their wings to rise up from the earth, the wheels at their side did not veer.
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 stopped, the others stopped, and when they rose up, the others rose 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 stopped above the cherubim.
18
Then the Glory of God left the Temple entrance and hovered over the cherubim.
19 The cherubim lifted up their wings and rose up from the earth in my sight as they went out with the wheels beside them. They stopped at the entrance of the east gate of the house of the Lord; and the glory of the God of Israel was above 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 river Chebar; 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, each four wings, and underneath their wings something like human hands.
21
Each had four faces and four wings. Under their wings was what looked like human hands.
22 As for what their faces were like, they were the same faces whose appearance I had seen by the river Chebar. Each one moved straight ahead.
22
Their faces looked exactly like those I had seen at the Kebar River. Each went straight ahead.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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.