Ezekiel 1:4-26

English Standard Version

The Glory of the Lord

⁴ As I looked, behold, ^(A)a stormy wind came ^(B)out of the north, and a great cloud, with ^(C)brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, ^(D)as it were gleaming metal.^{[a] 5} And from the midst of it came the likeness of ^(E)four living creatures. ^(F)And this was their appearance: they had a human likeness, ^6 (G)but each had four faces, and each of them had four wings. ⁷ Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf's foot. And they sparkled ^(H)like burnished bronze. ⁸ Under their wings ^(I)on their four sides ^(J)they had human hands. And the four had their faces and their wings thus: ⁹ their wings touched one another. ^(K)Each one of them went straight forward, ^(L)without turning as they went. ¹⁰ As for the likeness of their faces, ^(M)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. ¹¹ Such were their faces. And their wings were spread out above. Each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while ^(N)two covered their bodies. ^12 (O)And each went straight forward. ^(P)Wherever the spirit^[b] would go, they went, without turning as they went. ¹³ As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was ^(Q)like burning coals of fire, ^(R)like the appearance of torches moving to and fro among the living creatures. ^(S)And the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. ¹⁴ And the living creatures ^(T)darted to and fro, ^(U)like the appearance of a flash of lightning.

^15 (V)Now 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.^{[c] 16 (W)}As for the appearance of the wheels and their construction: their appearance was like ^(X)the gleaming of beryl. ^(Y)And the four had the same likeness, their appearance and construction being as it were a wheel within a wheel. ^17 (Z)When they went, they went ^(AA)in any of their four directions^{[d] (AB)}without turning as they went. ¹⁸ And their rims were tall and awesome, ^(AC)and the rims of all four were full of eyes all around. ^19 (AD)And when the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; ^(AE)and when the living creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose. ^20 (AF)Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, and the wheels rose along with them, ^(AG)for the spirit of the living creatures^[e] was in the wheels. ^21 (AH)When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; ^(AI)and when those rose from the earth, the wheels rose along with them, ^(AJ)for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.

²² Over the heads of the living creatures there was ^(AK)the likeness of an expanse, shining like awe-inspiring ^(AL)crystal, spread out above their heads. ²³ And under the expanse their wings were ^(AM)stretched out straight, one toward another. ^(AN)And each creature had two wings covering its body. ²⁴ And when they went, I heard the sound of their wings ^(AO)like the sound of many waters, like ^(AP)the sound of the ^(AQ)Almighty, a sound of tumult ^(AR)like the sound of an army. When they stood still, they let down their wings. ²⁵ And there came a voice from above ^(AS)the expanse over their heads. When they stood still, they let down their wings.

²⁶ And above the expanse over their heads there was ^(AT)the likeness of a throne, ^(AU)in appearance ^(AV)like sapphire;^[f] and seated above the likeness of a throne was ^(AW)a likeness with a human appearance.