Ezekiel 1

And it happened in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth of the month, and I was in the midst of the captivity by the river Chobar, and the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.

On the fifth of the month — this was the fifth year of the captivity of King Joakim.

And the word of the Lord came to Iezekiel son of Bouzi, the priest, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chobar; and the hand of the Lord came upon me.

And I looked, and behold, an uplifting wind was coming from the north, and a great cloud in it, and brightness round about it, and flashing fire; and in the midst of it, as the appearance of electrum in the midst of the fire, and brightness in it.

And in the midst, as the likeness of four living creatures; and this was their appearance: a likeness of a man was upon them.

And four faces to each one, and four wings to each one.

And their legs were straight, and their feet were winged; and there were sparks, like flashing bronze; and their wings were nimble.

And a man's hand was underneath their wings on their four sides; and the faces of the four of them —

they did not turn as they walked; each went straight before their face.

And the likeness of their faces: a face of a man; and a face of a lion on the right for the four, and a face of a calf on the left for the four, and a face of an eagle for the four.

And their wings were stretched out above for the four; to each one, two were joined to one another, and two covered over their body.

And each went according to its face; wherever the spirit was going, they went, and they did not turn.

And in the midst of the living creatures was an appearance as of burning coals of fire, as the look of torches whirling about among the living creatures; and there was brightness of the fire, and out of the fire went forth lightning.

And I looked, and behold, one wheel upon the earth, close beside the living creatures, for the four.

And the appearance of the wheels was as the appearance of tharsis stone, and there was one likeness for the four; and their workmanship was as it were a wheel within a wheel.

They went upon their four sides; they did not turn as they went.

Nor did their rims; and they had height, and I looked at them, and their rims were full of eyes round about for the four.

And when the living creatures went, the wheels went close beside them; and when the living creatures lifted up from the earth, the wheels lifted up.

Wherever the cloud was, there was the spirit to go; the living creatures went, and the wheels, and they lifted up together with them, because a spirit of life was in the wheels.

When they went, these went; and when they stood, these stood; and when they lifted up from the earth, these lifted up together with them, because a spirit of life was in the wheels.

And there was a likeness over the head of the living creatures, as a firmament, as the appearance of crystal, stretched out over their wings above.

And beneath the firmament their wings were stretched out, fluttering one toward the other; to each one, two were joined, covering their bodies.

And I heard the sound of their wings when they went, like the sound of many waters; and when they stood, their wings ceased.

And behold, a voice from above the firmament that was over their head.

As the appearance of a sapphire stone, a likeness of a throne upon it; and upon the likeness of the throne, a likeness as the appearance of a man above.

And I saw, from the appearance of the loins and upward, as the look of electrum; and from the appearance of the loins and downward I saw as an appearance of fire, and its brightness round about.

As the appearance of the bow when it is in the cloud on a day of rain, so was the standing of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And I saw, and I fall upon my face, and I heard a voice of one speaking.