Ezekiel in Babylon

1 ^(A)In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by ^(B)the Chebar canal, ^(C)the heavens were opened, and I saw ^(D)visions of God.^{[a] 2} On the fifth day of the month (it was ^(E)the fifth year of ^(F)the exile of King Jehoiachin), ³ the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel ^(G)the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by ^(H)the Chebar canal, and ^(I)the hand of the Lord was upon him there.

The Glory of the Lord

⁴ As I looked, behold, ^(J)a stormy wind came ^(K)out of the north, and a great cloud, with ^(L)brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, ^(M)as it were gleaming metal.^{[b] 5} And from the midst of it came the likeness of ^(N)four living creatures. ^(O)And this was their appearance: they had a human likeness, ^6 (P)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 ^(Q)like burnished bronze. ⁸ Under their wings ^(R)on their four sides ^(S)they had human hands. And the four had their faces and their wings thus: ⁹ their wings touched one another. ^(T)Each one of them went straight forward, ^(U)without turning as they went. ¹⁰ As for the likeness of their faces, ^(V)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 ^(W)two covered their bodies. ^12 (X)And each went straight forward. ^(Y)Wherever the spirit^[c] would go, they went, without turning as they went. ¹³ As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was ^(Z)like burning coals of fire, ^(AA)like the appearance of torches moving to and fro among the living creatures. ^(AB)And the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. ¹⁴ And the living creatures ^(AC)darted to and fro, ^(AD)like the appearance of a flash of lightning.

²² Over the heads of the living creatures there was ^(A)the likeness of an expanse, shining like awe-inspiring ^(B)crystal, spread out above their heads. ²³ And under the expanse their wings were ^(C)stretched out straight, one toward another. ^(D)And each creature had two wings covering its body. ²⁴ And when they went, I heard the sound of their wings ^(E)like the sound of many waters, like ^(F)the sound of the ^(G)Almighty, a sound of tumult ^(H)like the sound of an army. When they stood still, they let down their wings. ²⁵ And there came a voice from above ^(I)the expanse over their heads. When they stood still, they let down their wings.

²⁶ And above the expanse over their heads there was ^(J)the likeness of a throne, ^(K)in appearance ^(L)like sapphire;^[a] and seated above the likeness of a throne was ^(M)a likeness with a human appearance. ²⁷ And ^(N)upward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were ^(O)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 ^(P)there was brightness around him.^{[b] 28} Like the appearance of ^(Q)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 ^(R)the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, ^(S)I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.