Ezekiel 1
1 In the thirtieth year, the fourth month, and the fifth day of the month, it came about that I was living among the captives by the Kebar Canal. The heavens opened, and I saw visions of God.
Now it came to pass in the thirtieth 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 that 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 Yahweh came to Ezekiel son of Buzi the priest, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Kebar Canal, and the hand of Yahweh was upon him there.
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 Then I looked, and there was a windstorm coming from the north; a great cloud with fire flashing within it and brightness surrounding it and inside of it, and the fire was the color of amber inside the cloud.
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 In the middle was the likeness of four living creatures. This was their appearance: They had the likeness of a man,
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 they had four faces each, and each of the creatures had four wings.
And each one [had] four faces, and each one [had] four wings.
7 Their legs were straight, but the soles of their feet were like the hooves of a calf that shone 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 Yet they had human hands under their wings on all four sides. For all four, their faces and wings were like this:
And the hand of a man was under their wings on their four sides.
9 their wings were touching the wings of the next creature, and they did not turn as they went; instead, each one went straight forward.
And the faces of them four turned not when they went; they went everyone straight forward.
10 The likeness of their faces was like the face of a man. The four of them had the face of a lion to the right side, and the four of them had the face of an ox on the left side. They four had 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 Their faces were like that, and their wings were spread out above, so that each creature had a pair of wings that touched another creature's wing, and also a pair of wings that covered their bodies.
And the four had their wings spread out above; each one [had] two joined to one another, and two covered their bodies.
12 Each went straight forward, so that wherever the Spirit directed them to go, they went without turning.
And each one went straight forward: wherever the spirit was going they went, and turned not back.
13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches; bright fire also moved about among the creatures, and there were flashes of lightning.
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 living creatures were moving swiftly back and forth, and they had the appearance of lightning!
15 Then I looked at the living creatures; and I saw one wheel on the ground beside each of living creatures with its four faces.
And I looked, and, behold, the four [had each] one wheel on the ground near the living creatures.
16 This was the appearance and structure of the wheels: Each wheel was like beryl, and the four had the same likeness; their appearance and structure was like a wheel intersecting another 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 their four directions, without turning as they went.
They went on their four sides: they turned not as they went;
18 As for their rims, they were high and fearsome, for the rims were full of eyes round about.
neither did their backs [turn]: and they were high: and I beheld them, and the backs of them four were full of eyes round about.
19 Whenever the living creatures moved, the wheels moved beside them. When the living creatures rose up from the earth, the wheels also rose up.
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 went, and the wheels rose up beside them, for the spirit of the living creature 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 Whenever the creatures moved, the wheels also moved; and when the creatures stood still, the wheels stood still; when the creatures rose up from the earth, the wheels rose up beside them, because the spirit of the living creature 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 Over the heads of the living creatures was the likeness of an expansive dome; it looked like awe-inspiring crystal stretched out over their heads above.
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 Beneath the dome, each one of the creature's wings stretched out straight and touched another creature's wings. Each of the living creatures also had a pair to cover themselves; each had a pair to cover his own body.
And their wings were spread out under the firmament, reaching one to the other; two [wings] to each, covering their bodies.
24 Then I heard the sound of their wings. Like the noise of many waters. Like the voice of the Almighty whenever they moved. Like the sound of a rainstorm. Like the sound of an army. Whenever 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 A voice came from above the dome over their heads whenever they stood still and lowered their wings.
And lo! a voice from above the firmament
26 Above the dome over their heads was the likeness of a throne that was like the appearance of a sapphire stone, and on the likeness of the throne was a likeness like the appearance 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 I saw a figure with the appearance of glowing metal with fire in it from the appearance of his hips up; I saw from the appearance of his hips downward the appearance of fire and brightness all around.
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 Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day was the appearance of the bright light surrounding it. It was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Yahweh. When I saw it, I fell on my face, and I 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.
