The chambers of the chariot
Hugo Odeberg / Philip Alexander (composite, abridged) · Public domain / scholarly composite. Reproduced for educational and religious commentary.
1Metatron showed me the chambers of the chariot. The chariot has four faces — a man, a lion, an ox, an eagle. Each face has four wings. Beneath the wings are wheels. The wheels are full of eyes.
2And there is the river of fire, the Nahar di-Nur, which flows from the throne. The angels are formed from this fire, and they return to it. New angels arise every day; they sing one song; they pass away.
3And there are the storehouses of snow and of hail, of dew and of rain, of fire and of light, of wisdom and of understanding. Each is sealed. Each has its own angel. Each is opened only at the command of the holy One.
4And there is the curtain — the Pargod — that is hung before the throne. On it are inscribed all the generations of the world: those who are, those who were, those who shall be. The angels read it; the prophets read it in vision; no flesh-and-blood man may look upon it without permission.
5Metatron said: All these things have been shown thee, Rabbi Ishmael, son of Joseph. Now return. Tell them to thy disciples. Hide them from those who would profane them.
6I came back. I came down through the seven palaces. I came back to my body. I wrote what I had seen.
7And whoever is worthy may read these words and ascend; whoever is not worthy will read and not understand.