The Book of
Ezekiel
1
1 Now
in the thirtieth
year, in the
fourth month, in
the fifth day
of the month,
as I was
among the captives
by the river
Chebar, the
heavens were
opened, and I
saw visions of
God.
2 In
the fifth of
the month, which
was the fifth
year of
King Jehoiachin’s captivity,
3 the
LORD’s
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,
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 center 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 among 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 toward
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.