English Standard Version

International Standard Version

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

1On the fifth day of the fourth month of the thirtieth year of the exile to Babylon, while I was among the captives on the bank of the Chebar River, heaven opened up and I saw visions from God.

2On the fifth day of the month (it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin),

2On the fifth day of the month in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin's imprisonment in exile,

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

3a message from the LORD came directly to Buzi's son Ezekiel, the priest, by the Chebar River in the land of the Chaldeans. The hand of the LORD rested upon him there.

4As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud, with brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming metal.

4I was amazed to see a wind storm blow in from the north, consisting of a massive cloud and fire that was flashing back and forth, surrounded by bright light. From deep within the cloud, something was shining that appeared to have a color like bronze that had been placed in fire until it glowed.

5And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had a human likeness,

5Deep inside it, the likenesses of four living beings were visible. Their appearances were similar to human forms,

6but each had four faces, and each of them had four wings.

6except that they each had four faces, four pairs of wings,

7Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf’s foot. And they sparkled like burnished bronze.

7and straight legs. Their feet resembled calves' hooves, but they gleamed like polished bronze.

8Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. And the four had their faces and their wings thus:

8From under their wings there were human hands on their four sides. Now as to their four faces and four pairs of wings,

9their wings touched one another. Each one of them went straight forward, without turning as they went.

9their pairs of wings overlapped each other. They moved in straight directions without turning their faces around as they moved.

10As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face. The four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle.

10The form of their faces was human, but each of the four also had the face of a lion to the right, the face of an ox to the left, and the face of an eagle behind them.

11Such were their faces. And their wings were spread out above. Each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two covered their bodies.

11That's what their faces were like. Their wings spread out above and around them, one pair overlapping another, with one pair covering themselves.

12And each went straight forward. Wherever the spirit would go, they went, without turning as they went.

12Each moved in straight directions. Wherever they decided to go, they went without turning themselves.

13As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches moving to and fro among the living creatures. And the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.

13Now, in the midst of the living beings there was something that appeared to glow like coals kindled by a fire, like torches that moved back and forth between the living beings. The fire was dazzling, and lightning flashed from the fire.

14And the living creatures darted to and fro, like the appearance of a flash of lightning.

14The living beings moved around, in appearance resembling lightning.

15Now as I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, one for each of the four of them.

15As I observed the living beings, I noticed one wheel on the earth beside each being—that is, for the four of them.

16As for the appearance of the wheels and their construction: their appearance was like the gleaming of beryl. And the four had the same likeness, their appearance and construction being as it were a wheel within a wheel.

16Their wheels and their construction details looked like gold-colored beryl. Each wheel was identical in form to the others, and they appeared to have been constructed and designed as if one wheel were within another.

17When they went, they went in any of their four directions without turning as they went.

17Whenever the four moved, no matter which of four directions, they moved without turning around.

18And their rims were tall and awesome, and the rims of all four were full of eyes all around.

18Their wheel rims were ornate and terrifying. They were full of eyes that surrounded the four of them.

19And when the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose.

19Whenever the living beings moved, the wheels moved, too. Whenever the living beings rose from the earth, the wheels rose also.

20Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, and the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.

20Whatever direction these spirits went, the wheels would be lifted up along with them, because the wheels were alive.

21When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those rose from the earth, the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.

21They moved around whenever they wanted to move around, and they stood still whenever they wanted to stand still; and whenever they rose from the earth, the wheels remained close beside them, because the wheels were also alive.

22Over the heads of the living creatures there was the likeness of an expanse, shining like awe-inspiring crystal, spread out above their heads.

22There was spread out over the heads of the living beings what looked like a canopy, in outward appearance resembling ice,

23And under the expanse their wings were stretched out straight, one toward another. And each creature had two wings covering its body.

23and underneath the canopy, their wings spread out straight over their heads toward each other. They each also had two wings with which they covered themselves, one wing covering its body on one side and one wing covering itself on the other side.

24And when they went, I heard the sound of their wings like the sound of many waters, like the sound of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army. When they stood still, they let down their wings.

24I also heard the sound of their wings, like the sound of roaring water, like the voice of the Almighty, or like a boisterous crowd within an army camp. Whenever they stopped flying, they lowered their wings.

25And there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads. When they stood still, they let down their wings.

25A sound came from above the canopy that was spread out over their heads. Whenever they stood still, they lowered their wings.

26And above the expanse over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance.

26From above the canopy that was spread out over their heads, there appeared to be something reminiscent of a throne, resembling sapphire in form. There was the likeness of the appearance of a human being seated on the likeness of the throne high above.

27And upward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were gleaming metal, like the appearance of fire enclosed all around. And downward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him.

27I noticed that from what appeared to look like his waist upward there was something that looked like metal that glowed as if it were immersed in fire. Below this there was something resembling fire, with a radiant light surrounding him.

28Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

28The appearance of the radiant light resembled that of a rainbow shining in a cloud on a rainy day. This was what the appearance of the form of the glory of the LORD resembled. When I saw all of this, I fell flat on my face. Then I heard a voice speaking.

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