CHAPTER 1
In the thirtieth
year,
in the fourth month,
on the fifth
day,
while I
was among
the exiles
by
the River
Kebar,
the heavens
opened
and I saw
visions
of God.
the word
of the LORD
came
directly
to
Ezekiel
the priest,
the son
of Buzi,
in the land
of the Chaldeans
by
the Kebar
River.
And there
the LORD’s
hand
was
upon him.
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 glow
like amber,
and within it
was the form
of four
living creatures.
And this was
their appearance:
They had
a human
form,
Their legs
were straight,
and the soles
of their feet
were like the hooves
of a calf,
gleaming
like
polished
bronze.
and their wings
were touching
one
another.
They did not
turn
as they moved;
each
one went
straight
ahead.
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.
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.
Each
creature went
straight ahead.
Wherever
the spirit
would go,
they would go,
without
turning
as they moved.
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.
When I looked
at the living creatures,
I saw
a
wheel
on the ground
beside
each creature
with its four
faces.
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.
So as the living creatures
moved,
the wheels
moved
beside them,
and when the creatures
rose
from
the ground,
the wheels
also rose.
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.
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.
Spread out
above
the heads
of the living creatures
was the shape
on an awesome
expanse,
gleaming
like crystal.
And under
the expanse,
their wings
stretched out
toward
one
another.
Each one
also had two
wings covering
its body.
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 as they stood still
with their wings
lowered,
a voice
came
from above
the expanse
that was
over
their heads.
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.
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.
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.