Ezekiel 1
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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.1In my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.
2On the fifth day of the month in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin's imprisonment in exile, 2On the fifth of the month--it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin--
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.3the word of the LORD came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, by the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians. There the hand of the LORD was on him.
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.4I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north--an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal,
5Deep inside it, the likenesses of four living beings were visible. Their appearances were similar to human forms, 5and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance their form was human,
6except that they each had four faces, four pairs of wings,6but each of them had four faces and four wings.
7and straight legs. Their feet resembled calves' hooves, but they gleamed like polished bronze. 7Their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished bronze.
8From under their wings there were human hands on their four sides. Now as to their four faces and four pairs of wings, 8Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. All four of them had faces and wings,
9their pairs of wings overlapped each other. They moved in straight directions without turning their faces around as they moved. 9and the wings of one touched the wings of another. Each one went straight ahead; they did not turn as they moved.
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.10Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a human being, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle.
11That's what their faces were like. Their wings spread out above and around them, one pair overlapping another, with one pair covering themselves. 11Such were their faces. They each had two wings spreading out upward, each wing touching that of the creature on either side; and each had two other wings covering its body.
12Each moved in straight directions. Wherever they decided to go, they went without turning themselves.12Each one went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went.
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. 13The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it.
14The living beings moved around, in appearance resembling lightning.14The creatures sped back and forth like flashes of lightning.
15As I observed the living beings, I noticed one wheel on the earth beside each being—that is, for the four of them.15As I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground beside each creature with its four faces.
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. 16This was the appearance and structure of the wheels: They sparkled like topaz, and all four looked alike. Each appeared to be made like a wheel intersecting a wheel.
17Whenever the four moved, no matter which of four directions, they moved without turning around.17As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the creatures faced; the wheels did not change direction as the creatures went.
18Their wheel rims were ornate and terrifying. They were full of eyes that surrounded the four of them. 18Their rims were high and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyes all around.
19Whenever the living beings moved, the wheels moved, too. Whenever the living beings rose from the earth, the wheels rose also. 19When the living creatures moved, the wheels beside them moved; and when the living creatures rose from the ground, the wheels also rose.
20Whatever direction these spirits went, the wheels would be lifted up along with them, because the wheels were alive.20Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise along with them, because 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. 21When the creatures moved, they also moved; when the creatures stood still, they also stood still; and when the creatures rose from the ground, the wheels rose along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
22There was spread out over the heads of the living beings what looked like a canopy, in outward appearance resembling ice, 22Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was what looked something like a vault, sparkling like crystal, and awesome.
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.23Under the vault their wings were stretched out one toward the other, and each had two wings covering its body.
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. 24When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushing waters, like the voice of the Almighty, like the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings.
25A sound came from above the canopy that was spread out over their heads. Whenever they stood still, they lowered their wings. 25Then there came a voice from above the vault over their heads as they stood with lowered wings.
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. 26Above the vault over their heads was what looked like a throne of lapis lazuli, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man.
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. 27I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him.
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.28Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking.
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Lamentations 5
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