Ezekiel 1

1In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth of the month, while I was among the exiles by the Chebar River, the heavens opened, and I saw visions of God.

2On the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of King Jehoiachin's exile.

3The word of Yahweh came to Ezekiel the priest, son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar, and there the hand of Yahweh was upon him.

4I saw, and behold, a storm wind approached from the north—a great cloud, with fire flashing and brightness all around it, and from its midst the appearance of amber from the fire within.

5The likeness of four living creatures came from its midst. This was their appearance: they resembled a man.

6Each had four faces, and each had four wings.

7Their feet were straight, and the soles of their feet resembled a calf's foot sole, sparkling like the gleam of burnished brass.

8They had human hands under their wings on each of their four sides, and all four had faces and wings.

9Their wings were joined, each to its fellow; they did not turn as they went; each one went in the direction of its face.

10The likeness of their faces was a man's face, a lion's face on their right for the four of them, an ox's face on their left for the four of them, and an eagle's face for the four of them.

11Their faces and their wings were spread out above. Each one had two wings joined to the neighboring one, and two covering their bodies.

12Each one went in the direction of its face; wherever the spirit was to go, they went there, and they did not turn as they went.

13The living creatures resembled burning coals of fire in appearance, like torches; it moved back and forth among them, the fire shone brightly, and lightning flashed from the fire.

14The living creatures ran to and fro like a flash of lightning.

15When I saw the living creatures, there was one wheel on the earth beside them for each of its four faces.

16The appearance of the wheels and their workmanship resembled beryl, and the four of them shared one likeness; their appearance and workmanship were like a wheel within a wheel.

17When they went, they went toward their four quarters; they did not turn when they went.

18Their rims were lofty and fearsome, and their rims were filled with eyes encircling the four.

19When the living creatures went, the wheels went alongside them; when the living creatures were raised from the earth, the wheels were raised.

20Wherever the spirit was to go, they went; there the spirit was to go, and the wheels were lifted up alongside them, because the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.

21When they went, the wheels went; when they stood, the wheels stood; and when they were lifted from the earth, the wheels beside them were lifted—for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.

22Over the heads of the living creature stretched the likeness of an expanse, like the appearance of awesome crystal, arching over their heads from above.

23Beneath the expanse their wings were straight, each toward its sister. Each had two covering their bodies on this side, and each had two covering their bodies on that side.

24I heard the sound of their wings like the sound of mighty waters, like the voice of the Almighty, the sound of tumult like the sound of an army when they went; when they stood, they relaxed their wings.

25When they stood and lowered their wings, there was a voice above the expanse that was over their heads.

26Above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne resembling a sapphire stone, and upon the likeness of the throne was a likeness resembling a man high above it.

27I saw like the appearance of amber, like the appearance of fire within it all around, from the appearance of his loins upward; and from the appearance of his loins downward I saw like the appearance of fire, with brightness all around him.

28Like the appearance of a rainbow in the cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding brightness. That was the appearance of the likeness of Yahweh's glory. I saw it, fell facedown, and heard a voice speaking.