Revised Standard Version RSV
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 Then I looked, and behold, on the firmament that was over the heads of the cherubim there appeared above them something like a sapphire, in form resembling a throne.
1
As I looked at the dome over the heads of the angels, I saw something that looked like a throne made of 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
The LORD said to the person dressed in linen, "Go between the wheels under the angels, and fill your hands with burning coals. Then scatter them over the city." So he went between the wheels as I watched.
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 angels were standing on the south side of the temple as the person went. A cloud filled the inner courtyard.
4 And the glory of the LORD went up from the cherubim to the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the glory of the LORD.
4
The LORD's glory rose from the angels to the entrance of the temple, the cloud filled the temple, and the brightness of the LORD's glory filled the courtyard.
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
The sound of the angels' wings was heard as far as the outer courtyard. It was like the sound of the Almighty God when he speaks.
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
After the LORD had commanded the person dressed in linen to take burning coals from between the wheels beside the angels, the person went in and stood beside one of the wheels.
7 And a cherub stretched forth 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 angels reached into the fire that was between the angels and took out some coals. This angel put them in the hands of the person dressed in linen. The person took them and left.
8 The cherubim appeared to have the form of a human hand under their wings.
8
The angels appeared to have what looked like human hands under their wings.
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 chrysolite.
9
As I looked, I saw four wheels beside the angels, one wheel beside each of the angels. The wheels looked like beryl.
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 the same. Each was like a wheel within a wheel.
11 When they went, they went in any of their four directions without turning as they went, but in whatever direction the front wheel faced the others followed without turning as they went.
11
Whenever the angels moved, they moved in any of the four directions without turning as they moved. They always moved in the direction they faced without turning as they moved.
12 And their rims, and their spokes, and the wheels were full of eyes round about--the wheels that the four of them had.
12
Their entire bodies, their backs, hands, wings, and wheels were covered with eyes. Each of the angels had a wheel.
13 As for the wheels, they were called in my hearing the whirling wheels.
13
I heard that the wheels were called the whirling wheels.
14 And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of the cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
14
Each of the angels had four faces. The first was the face of an angel, the second was the face of a human, the third was the face of a lion, and the fourth was the face of an eagle.
15 And the cherubim mounted up. These were the living creatures that I saw by the river Chebar.
15
The angels rose. These were the living creatures that I saw at the Chebar 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 angels moved, the wheels moved beside them. When the angels lifted their wings to rise from the ground, the wheels didn't leave their side.
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 angels stood still, the wheels stood still. When the angels rose, the wheels rose with them. The spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
18 Then the glory of the LORD went forth from the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim.
18
Then the glory of the LORD left the temple's entrance and stood over the angels.
19 And the cherubim lifted up their wings and mounted up from the earth in my sight as they went forth, with the wheels beside them; and they stood at the door of the east gate of the house of the LORD; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them.
19
The angels lifted their wings and rose from the ground. I was watching them as they left with the wheels beside them. The angels stood at the door to the east gate of the LORD's temple, and 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 are the living creatures that I saw under the God of Israel at the Chebar River. I realized that they were angels.
21 Each had four faces, and each four wings, and underneath their wings the semblance of human hands.
21
Each had four faces and four wings, and under their wings were what looked like human hands.
22 And as for the likeness of their faces, they were the very faces whose appearance I had seen by the river Chebar. They went every one straight forward.
22
Their faces looked exactly like the faces that I saw by the Chebar River. Each one went straight ahead.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the 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.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.