Ezekiel 1
1 In the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was among the exiles by the River Kebar, the heavens opened and I saw visions of God.
Now it came to pass in the thirties year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, that I was in the midst of the captivity by the river of Chobar; and the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.
2 On the fifth day of the month—it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin—
On the fifth day of the month; this was the fifth year of the captivity of king Joakim.
3 the word of the LORD came directly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Kebar. And there the LORD’s hand was upon him.
And the word of the Lord came to Jezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans, by the river of Chobar; and the hand of the Lord was upon me.
4 I looked and saw a whirlwind coming from the north, a great cloud with fire flashing back and forth and brilliant light all around it. In the center of the fire was a gleam like amber,
And I looked, and, behold, a sweeping wind came from the north, and a great cloud on it, and [there was] brightness round about it, and gleaming fire, and in the midst of it as it were the appearance of amber in the midst of the fire, and brightness in it.
5 and within it was the form of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: They had a human form,
And in the midst as it were the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; the likeness of a man was upon them.
6 but each had four faces and four wings.
And each one [had] four faces, and each one [had] four wings.
7 Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the hooves of a calf, gleaming like polished bronze.
And their legs were straight; and their feet were winged, and [there were] sparks, like gleaming brass, and their wings were light.
8 Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. All four living creatures had faces and wings,
And the hand of a man was under their wings on their four sides.
9 and their wings were touching one another. They did not turn as they moved; each one went straight ahead.
And the faces of them four turned not when they went; they went everyone straight forward.
10 The form of their faces was that of a man, and each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, the face of an ox on the left side, and also the face of an eagle.
And the likeness of their faces was the face of a man, and the face of a lion on the right of the four; and the face of a calf on the left of the four; and the face of an eagle to the four.
11 Such were their faces. Their wings were spread upward; each had two wings touching the wings of the creature on either side, and two wings covering its body.
And the four had their wings spread out above; each one [had] two joined to one another, and two covered their bodies.
12 Each creature went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they moved.
And each one went straight forward: wherever the spirit was going they went, and turned not back.
13 In the midst of the living creatures was the appearance of glowing coals of fire, or of torches. Fire moved back and forth between the living creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it.
And in the midst of the living creatures [there was] an appearance as of burning coals of fire, as an appearance of lamps turning among the living creatures; and the brightness of fire, and out of the fire came forth lightning.
14 The creatures were darting back and forth as quickly as flashes of lightning.
15 When I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground beside each creature with its four faces.
And I looked, and, behold, the four [had each] one wheel on the ground near the living creatures.
16 The workmanship of the wheels looked like the gleam of beryl, and all four had the same likeness. Their workmanship looked like a wheel within a wheel.
And the appearance of the wheels was as the appearance of beryl: and the four had one likeness: and their work was as it were a wheel in a wheel.
17 As they moved, they went in any of the four directions, without pivoting as they moved.
They went on their four sides: they turned not as they went;
18 Their rims were high and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyes all around.
neither did their backs [turn]: and they were high: and I saw them, and the backs of them four were full of eyes round about.
19 So as the living creatures moved, the wheels moved beside them, and when the creatures rose from the ground, the wheels also rose.
And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures lifted themselves off the earth, the wheels were lifted off.
20 Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise alongside them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
Wherever the cloud happened to be, there was the spirit ready to go: the wheels went and were lifted up with them; because the spirit of life was in the wheels.
21 When the creatures moved, the wheels moved; when the creatures stood still, the wheels stood still; and when the creatures rose from the ground, the wheels rose alongside them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
When those went, [the wheels] went; and when those stood, [the wheels] stood; and when those lifted themselves off the earth, they were lifted off with them: for the spirit of life was in the wheels.
22 Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was the likeness of an awesome expanse, gleaming like crystal.
And the likeness over the heads of the living creatures was as a firmament, as the appearance of crystal, spread out over their wings above.
23 And under the expanse, their wings stretched out toward one another. Each one also had two wings covering its body.
And their wings were spread out under the firmament, reaching one to the other; two [wings] to each, covering their bodies.
24 When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings like the roar of many waters, like the voice of the Almighty, like the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings.
And I heard the sound of their wings when they went, as the sound of much water: and when they stood, their wings were let down.
25 And there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads as they stood still with their wings lowered.
And behold! a voice from above the firmament
26 Above the expanse over their heads was the likeness of a throne with the appearance of sapphire, and on the throne high above was a figure like that of a man.
that was over their head, [there was] as the appearance of a sapphire stone, [and] the likeness of a throne upon it: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as an appearance of a man above.
27 From what seemed to be His waist up, I saw a gleam like amber, with what looked like fire within it all around. And from what seemed to be His waist down, I saw what looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded Him.
And I saw as it were the resemblance of amber from the appearance of the loins and upwards, and from the appearance of the loins and under I saw an appearance of fire, and the brightness thereof round about.
28 The appearance of the brilliant light all around Him was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell facedown and heard a voice speaking.
As the appearance of the bow when it is in the cloud in days of rain, so was the form of brightness round about.
