¹Now 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 .[#1:1 The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “” (Elohim).]

²In the fifth of the month , which was the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity ,

³the 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 .[#1:3 When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name (Hebrew “”, usually pronounced Yahweh).]

⁴I 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.[#1:4 “Behold”, from “”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.]

⁵Out of its centre came the likeness of four living creatures . This was their appearance : They had the likeness of a man .

⁶Everyone had four faces , and each one of them had four wings .

⁷Their feet were straight feet . The sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf ’s foot ; and they sparkled like burnished bronze .

⁸They 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 :

⁹Their wings were joined to one another . They didn’t turn when they went . Each one went straight forward .

¹⁰As 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 .

¹¹Such were their faces . Their wings were spread out above . Two wings of each one touched another , and two covered their bodies .

¹²Each one went straight forward . Where the spirit was to go , they went . They didn’t turn when they went .

¹³As 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 .

¹⁴The living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.

¹⁵Now 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 .

¹⁶The 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.

¹⁷When they went , they went in their four directions . They didn’t turn when they went .

¹⁸As for their rims , they were high and dreadful ; and the four of them had their rims full of eyes all around .

¹⁹When the living creatures went , the wheels went beside them . When the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up .

²⁰Wherever 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.

²¹When 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.

²²Over 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 .

²³Under 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 .

²⁴When 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 .

²⁵There was a voice above the expanse that was over their heads . When they stood , they let down their wings .

²⁶Above 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 .[#1:26 or, lapis lazuli]

²⁷I 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 .

²⁸As 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 .