Bible Reading Plan

Chapter 10

God's Glory Departs From the Temple

¹ I looked, and I saw the likeness of a throne^(a) of lapis lazuli^(b) above the vault^(c) that was over the heads of the cherubim.^{(d) 2} The Lord said to the man clothed in linen,^(e) "Go in among the wheels^(f) beneath the cherubim. Fill^(g) your hands with burning coals^(h) from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city." And as I watched, he went in.

³ Now the cherubim were standing on the south side of the temple when the man went in, and a cloud filled the inner court. ⁴ Then the glory of the Lord ⁽ⁱ⁾ rose from above the cherubim and moved to the threshold of the temple. The cloud filled the temple, and the court was full of the radiance of the glory of the Lord . ⁵ The sound of the wings of the cherubim could be heard as far away as the outer court, like the voice^(j) of God Almighty^[a] when he speaks.^(k)

⁶ When the Lord commanded the man in linen, "Take fire from among the wheels,^(l) from among the cherubim," the man went in and stood beside a wheel. ⁷ Then one of the cherubim reached out his hand to the fire^(m) that was among them. He took up some of it and put it into the hands of the man in linen, who took it and went out. ⁸ (Under the wings of the cherubim could be seen what looked like human hands.)⁽ⁿ⁾

⁹ I looked, and I saw beside the cherubim four wheels, one beside each of the cherubim; the wheels sparkled like topaz.^{(o) 10} As for their appearance, the four of them looked alike; each was like a wheel intersecting a wheel. ¹¹ As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the cherubim faced; the wheels did not turn about^[b] as the cherubim went. The cherubim went in whatever direction the head faced, without turning as they went. ¹² Their entire bodies, including their backs, their hands and their wings, were completely full of eyes,^(p) as were their four wheels.^{(q) 13} I heard the wheels being called "the whirling wheels." ¹⁴ Each of the cherubim^(r) had four faces:^(s) One face was that of a cherub, the second the face of a human being, the third the face of a lion,^(t) and the fourth the face of an eagle.^(u)

¹⁵ Then the cherubim rose upward. These were the living creatures^(v) I had seen by the Kebar River.^{(w) 16} When the cherubim moved, the wheels beside them moved; and when the cherubim spread their wings to rise from the ground, the wheels did not leave their side. ¹⁷ When the cherubim stood still, they also stood still; and when the cherubim rose, they rose with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in them.^(x)

¹⁸ Then the glory^(y) of the Lord departed from over the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim.^{(z) 19} While I watched, the cherubim spread their wings and rose from the ground, and as they went, the wheels went with them.^(aa) They stopped at the entrance of the east gate of the Lord 's house, and the glory^(ab) of the God of Israel was above them.

²⁰ These were the living creatures I had seen beneath the God of Israel by the Kebar River,^(ac) and I realized that they were cherubim. ²¹ Each had four faces^(ad) and four wings,^(ae) and under their wings was what looked like human hands. ²² Their faces had the same appearance as those I had seen by the Kebar River.^(af) Each one went straight ahead.

Chapter 4

Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ

¹ As a prisoner^(a) for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy^(b) of the calling^(c) you have received. ² Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another^(d) in love.^{(e) 3} Make every effort to keep the unity^(f) of the Spirit through the bond of peace.^{(g) 4} There is one body^(h) and one Spirit,⁽ⁱ⁾ just as you were called to one hope when you were called^(j); ⁵ one Lord,^(k) one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all,^(l) who is over all and through all and in all.^(m)

⁷ But to each one of us⁽ⁿ⁾ grace^(o) has been given^(p) as Christ apportioned it. ⁸ This is why it^[a] says:

⁹ (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions^[c]? ¹⁰ He who descended is the very one who ascended^(s) higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)^{(t) 11} So Christ himself gave^(u) the apostles,^(v) the prophets,^(w) the evangelists,^(x) the pastors and teachers,^{(y) 12} to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ^(z) may be built up^{(aa) 13} until we all reach unity^(ab) in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God^(ac) and become mature,^(ad) attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.^(ae)

¹⁴ Then we will no longer be infants,^(af) tossed back and forth by the waves,^(ag) and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.^{(ah) 15} Instead, speaking the truth in love,^(ai) we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head,^(aj) that is, Christ. ¹⁶ From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows^(ak) and builds itself up^(al) in love,^(am) as each part does its work.