1Now it cameabout in the thirtiethyear,on the fifth[day] of the fourthmonth,while I was by the riverChebaramongthe exiles,the heavenswere openedand I sawvisionsof God.2(On the fifthof the monthin the fifthyearof KingJehoiachin'sexile,3the wordof the LORDcameexpresslyto Ezekielthe priest,sonof Buzi,in the landof the Chaldeansby the riverChebar;and therethe handof the LORDcameupon him.)
4As I looked,behold,a stormwindwas comingfrom the north,a greatcloudwith fireflashingforthcontinually and a brightlightaroundit, and in its midstsomething like glowingmetalin the midstof the fire.5Withinit there were figuresresemblingfourlivingbeings.And thiswas their appearance:they had humanform.6Eachof them had fourfacesand fourwings.7Their legswere straightand their feetwere like a calf'shoof,and they gleamedlike burnishedbronze.8Undertheir wingson their foursides[were] humanhands.As for the facesand wingsof the fourof them,9their wingstouchedoneanother;[their faces] did not turnwhen they moved,eachwentstraightforward.10As for the formof their faces,[each] had the faceof a man;all fourhad the faceof a lionon the rightand the faceof a bullon the left,and all fourhad the faceof an eagle.11Such were their faces.Their wingswere spreadout above;eachhad twotouchinganother[being], and twocoveringtheir bodies.12And eachwentstraightforward;whereverthe spiritwas about to go,they would go,withoutturningas they went.13In the midst of the livingbeingsthere was something that lookedlike burningcoalsof fire,liketorchesdartingbackand forth amongthe livingbeings.The firewas bright,and lightningwas flashingfrom the fire.14And the livingbeingsranto and frolikeboltsof lightning.
15Now as I lookedat the livingbeings,behold,there was onewheelon the earthbesidethe livingbeings,for [each of] the fourof them.16The appearanceof the wheelsand their workmanship[was] like sparklingberyl,and all fourof them had the sameform,their appearanceand workmanship[being] as ifone wheelwere withinanother.17Whenever they moved,they movedin anyof their fourdirectionswithoutturningas they moved.18As for their rimsthey were loftyand awesome,and the rimsof all fourof them were fullof eyesroundabout.19Whenever the livingbeingsmoved,the wheelsmovedwith them. And whenever the livingbeingsrosefrom the earth,the wheelsrose[also].20Whereverthe spiritwas about to go,they would goin that direction. And the wheelsroseclosebesidethem; for the spiritof the livingbeings[was] in the wheels.21Whenever those went,these went;and whenever those stoodstill,these stoodstill.And whenever those rosefrom the earth,the wheelsroseclosebesidethem; for the spiritof the livingbeings[was] in the wheels.
22Now overthe headsof the livingbeings[there was] something likean expanse,like the awesomegleamof crystal,spreadout overtheir heads.23Underthe expansetheir wings[were stretched out] straight,onetowardthe other;eachonealso had twowings coveringits bodyon the onesideand on the other.24I also heardthe soundof their wingslike the soundof abundantwatersas they went,like the voiceof the Almighty,a soundof tumultlike the soundof an armycamp;whenever they stoodstill,they droppedtheir wings.25And there camea voicefrom abovethe expansethat was overtheir heads;whenever they stoodstill,they droppedtheir wings.
26Now abovethe expansethat was overtheir headsthere was somethingresemblinga throne,like lapislazuliin appearance;and on that whichresembleda throne,highup, [was] a figurewith the appearanceof a man.27Then I noticedfrom the appearanceof His loinsand upwardsomethinglike glowingmetalthat lookedlike fireallaroundwithinit, and from the appearanceof His loinsand downwardI sawsomethinglike fire;and [there was] a radiancearoundHim.28As the appearanceof the rainbowin the cloudson a rainyday,so[was] the appearanceof the surroundingradiance.Such[was] the appearanceof the likenessof the gloryof the LORD.And when I saw[it], I fellon my faceand hearda voicespeaking.
