Chapter 1
1 Now in the thirtieth year , in the fourth month , in the fifth day of the month , as I was amongst the captives by the river Chebar , the heavens were opened , and I saw visions of God . " (Elohim).
2 In the fifth of the month , which was the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity ,
3 the LORD ’s ", usually pronounced Yahweh). word came to Ezekiel the priest , the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar ; and the LORD ’s hand was there on him .
4 I looked , and behold , ", means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection. a stormy wind came out of the north : a great cloud , with flashing lightning, and a brightness around it , and out of the middle of it as it were glowing metal , out of the middle of the fire.
5 Out of its centre came the likeness of four living creatures . This was their appearance : They had the likeness of a man .
6 Everyone had four faces , and each one of them had four wings .
7 Their feet were straight feet . The sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf ’s foot ; and they sparkled like burnished bronze .
8 They had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides . The four of them had their faces and their wings like this :
9 Their wings were joined to one another . They didn’t turn when they went . Each one went straight forward .
10 As for the likeness of their faces , they had the face of a man . The four of them had the face of a lion on the right side . The four of them had the face of an ox on the left side . The four of them also had the face of an eagle .
11 Such were their faces . Their wings were spread out above . Two wings of each one touched another , and two covered their bodies .
12 Each one went straight forward . Where the spirit was to go , they went . They didn’t turn when they went .
13 As for the likeness of the living creatures , their appearance was like burning coals of fire , like the appearance of torches . The fire went up and down amongst the living creatures . The fire was bright , and lightning went out of the fire .
14 The living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.
15 Now as I saw the living creatures , behold , there was one wheel on the earth beside the living creatures , for each of the four faces of it .
16 The appearance of the wheels and their work was like a beryl . The four of them had one likeness . Their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel within a wheel.
17 When they went , they went in their four directions . They didn’t turn when they went .
18 As for their rims , they were high and dreadful ; and the four of them had their rims full of eyes all around .
19 When the living creatures went , the wheels went beside them . When the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up .
20 Wherever the spirit was to go , they went . The spirit was to go there . The wheels were lifted up beside them ; for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
21 When those went , these went . When those stood , these stood . When those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up beside them ; for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
22 Over the head of the living creature there was the likeness of an expanse , like an awesome crystal to look at , stretched out over their heads above .
23 Under the expanse , their wings were straight , one towards the other . Each one had two which covered on this side , and each one had two which covered their bodies on that side .
24 When they went , I heard the noise of their wings like the noise of great waters , like the voice of the Almighty , a noise of tumult like the noise of an army . When they stood , they let down their wings .
25 There was a voice above the expanse that was over their heads . When they stood , they let down their wings .
26 Above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne , as the appearance of a sapphire stone . On the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man on it above .
27 I saw as it were glowing metal , as the appearance of fire within it all around , from the appearance of his waist and upward ; and from the appearance of his waist and downward I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him .
28 As the appearance of the rainbow that is in the cloud in the day of rain , so was the appearance of the brightness all around . This was the appearance of the likeness of the LORD ’s glory . When I saw it , I fell on my face , and I heard a voice of one that spoke .