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

Vision of the Lord’s Glory

⁴ I looked and there was a whirlwind^(I) coming from the north, a great cloud with fire flashing back and forth and brilliant light all around it. In the center of the fire, there was a gleam like amber.^{(J) 5} The form of four living creatures came from it.^(K) And this was their appearance: They had human form, ⁶ but each of them had four faces and four wings. ⁷ Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the hooves of a calf, sparkling like the gleam of polished bronze.^{(L) 8} They had human hands under their wings on their four sides.^(M) All four of them had faces and wings.^{(N) 9} Their wings were touching. The creatures did not turn as they moved; each one went straight ahead.^{(O) 10} The form of each of their faces was that of a man,^(P) and each of the four had the face of a lion on the right, the face of an ox on the left, and the face of an eagle.^{(Q) 11} That is what their faces were like. Their wings were spread upward; each had two wings touching that of another and two wings covering its body.^{(R) 12} Each creature went straight ahead.^(S) Wherever the Spirit^[a] wanted to go, they went without turning as they moved.^(T)

¹³ The form of the living creatures was like the appearance of burning coals of fire and torches.^(U) Fire was moving back and forth between the living creatures; it was bright, with lightning coming out of it. ¹⁴ The creatures were darting back and forth^(V) like flashes of lightning.^(W)

¹⁵ When I looked at the living creatures, there was one wheel on the ground beside each creature that had four faces. ¹⁶ The appearance of the wheels^(X) and their craftsmanship was like the gleam of beryl,^(Y) and all four had the same form. Their appearance and craftsmanship was like a wheel within a wheel. ¹⁷ When they moved, they went in any of the four directions, without pivoting as they moved. ¹⁸ Their rims were large and frightening. Each of their four rims were full of eyes^(Z) all around. ¹⁹ So when the living creatures moved,^(AA) the wheels moved beside them, and when the creatures rose from the earth, the wheels also rose. ²⁰ Wherever the Spirit^[b] wanted to go, the creatures went in the direction the Spirit was moving. The wheels rose alongside them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. ²¹ When the creatures moved, the wheels moved; when the creatures stood still, the wheels stood still; and when the creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose alongside them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.

²² The shape of an expanse,^(AB) with a gleam like awe-inspiring crystal,^(AC) was spread out over the heads of the living creatures.^{(AD) 23} And under the expanse their wings extended one toward another. Each of them also had two wings covering their bodies. ²⁴ When they moved, I heard the sound of their wings like the roar of mighty waters,^(AE) like the voice of the Almighty,^(AF) and a sound of commotion like the noise of an army.^(AG) When they stood still, they lowered their wings.

²⁵ A voice came from above the expanse over their heads; when they stood still, they lowered their wings. ²⁶ The shape of a throne with the appearance of sapphire^[c] stone was above the expanse.^[d](AH) There was a form with the appearance of a human on the throne high above.^{(AI) 27} From what seemed to be His waist up, I saw a gleam like amber, with what looked like fire enclosing it all around.^(AJ) From what seemed to be His waist down, I also saw what looked like fire. There was a brilliant light all around Him. ²⁸ The appearance of the brilliant light all around was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day.^(AK) This was the appearance of the form of the Lord’s glory.^(AL) When I saw it, I fell facedown and heard a voice speaking.^(AM)

Mission to Rebellious Israel

2 He said to me, “Son of man, stand up on your feet^(AN) and I will speak with you.” ² As He spoke to me, the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet,^(AO) and I listened to the One who was speaking to me. ³ He said to me: “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to^[e] the rebellious pagans^[f] who have rebelled against Me. The Israelites and their ancestors have transgressed against Me to this day.^{(AP) 4} The children are obstinate^[g] and hardhearted.^(AQ) I am sending you to them, and you must say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says.’ ⁵ Whether they listen or refuse to listen^(AR)—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them.^(AS)

⁶ “But you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words,^(AT) though briers and thorns are beside you and you live among scorpions.^(AU) Don’t be afraid of their words or be discouraged by the look on their faces, for they are a rebellious house. ⁷ But speak My words to them whether they listen or refuse to listen,^(AV) for they are rebellious.

⁸ “And you, son of man, listen to what I tell you: Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you.”^{(AW) 9} So I looked and saw a hand reaching out to me,^(AX) and there was a written scroll in it.^{(AY) 10} When He unrolled it before me, it was written on the front and back; words of lamentation, mourning, and woe were written on it.

3 He said to me: “Son of man, eat what you find here. Eat this scroll,^(AZ) then go and speak to the house of Israel.” ² So I opened my mouth, and He fed me the scroll. ³ “Son of man,” He said to me, “eat^[h] and fill your stomach with this scroll I am giving you.” So I ate it,^(BA) and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth.^(BB)

⁴ Then He said to me: “Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak My words to them. ⁵ For you are not being sent to a people of unintelligible speech or difficult language but to the house of Israel. ⁶ You are not being sent to many peoples of unintelligible speech or difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. No doubt, if I sent you to them, they would listen to you.^{(BC) 7} But the house of Israel will not want to listen to you because they do not want to listen to Me.^(BD) For the whole house of Israel is hardheaded and hardhearted. ⁸ Look, I have made your face as hard as their faces and your forehead as hard as their foreheads.^{(BE) 9} I have made your forehead like a diamond, harder than flint. Don’t be afraid of them or discouraged by the look on their faces, even though they are a rebellious house.”

¹⁰ Next He said to me: “Son of man, listen carefully to all My words that I speak to you and take them to heart. ¹¹ Go to your people, the exiles, and speak to them. Tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says,’ whether they listen or refuse to listen.”^(BF)

¹² The Spirit then lifted me up,^(BG) and I heard a great rumbling sound behind me—praise the glory of the Lord in His place!— ¹³ with the^[i] sound of the living creatures’ wings brushing against each other^(BH) and the sound of the wheels beside them,^(BI) a great rumbling sound. ¹⁴ So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away. I left in bitterness and in an angry spirit, and the Lord’s hand was on me powerfully.^{(BJ) 15} I came to the exiles at Tel-abib, who were living by the Chebar Canal, and I sat there among them stunned for seven days.^(BK)

Isaiah’s Call and Mission

6 In the year that King Uzziah^(A) died, I saw the Lord^(B) seated on a high and lofty^(C) throne,^(D) and His robe^[a] filled the temple. ² Seraphim^[b] were standing above Him; each one had six wings:^(E) with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.^{(F) 3} And one called to another:

⁴ The foundations of the doorways shook^(I) at the sound of their voices, and the temple was filled with smoke.

⁵ Then I said:

⁶ Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken from the altar^(L) with tongs. ⁷ He touched my mouth^(M) with it and said:

⁸ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying:

I said:

⁹ And He replied:

¹¹ Then I said, “Until when, Lord?”^(Q) And He replied:

Daniel’s Vision of the Four Beasts

7 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream with visions in his mind^(A) as he was lying in his bed. He wrote down the dream,^(B) and here is the summary^[a] of his account. ² Daniel said, “In my vision at night I was watching, and suddenly the four winds of heaven^(C) stirred up the great sea. ³ Four huge beasts^(D) came up from the sea,^(E) each different from the other.

⁴ “The first was like a lion^(F) but had eagle’s wings. I continued watching until its wings were torn off. It was lifted up from the ground, set on its feet like a man, and given a human mind.

⁵ “Suddenly, another beast appeared, a second one, that looked like a bear.^(G) It was raised up on one side, with three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up! Gorge yourself on flesh.’

⁶ “While I was watching, another beast appeared. It was like a leopard^(H) with four wings of a bird on its back. It had four heads^(I) and was given authority to rule.

⁷ “While I was watching in the night visions, a fourth beast^(J) appeared, frightening and dreadful, and incredibly strong, with large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and it trampled with its feet whatever was left. It was different from all the beasts before it, and it had 10 horns.^(K)

⁸ “While I was considering the horns, suddenly another horn,^(L) a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. There were eyes in this horn like a man’s, and it had a mouth that spoke arrogantly.^(M)

The Ancient of Days and the Son of Man

⁹ “As I kept watching,

¹¹ “I watched, then, because of the sound of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued watching, the beast was killed and its body destroyed and given over to the burning fire.^{(W) 12} As for the rest of the beasts, their authority to rule was removed, but an extension of life was granted to them for a certain period of time.^{(X) 13} I continued watching in the night visions,

Interpretation of the Vision

¹⁵ “As for me, Daniel, my spirit was deeply distressed within me,^[b] and the visions in my mind terrified me.^{(AE) 16} I approached one of those who were standing by and asked him^(AF) the true meaning of all this. So he let me know the interpretation of these things:^{(AG) 17} ‘These huge beasts, four in number, are four kings who will rise from the earth. ¹⁸ But the holy ones of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever, yes, forever and ever.’^(AH)

¹⁹ “Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast,^(AI) the one different from all the others, extremely terrifying, with iron teeth and bronze claws, devouring, crushing, and trampling with its feet whatever was left. ²⁰ I also wanted to know about the 10 horns^(AJ) on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three fell—the horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke arrogantly,^(AK) and that was more visible than the others. ²¹ As I was watching, this horn waged war^(AL) against the holy ones and was prevailing over them ²² until the Ancient of Days arrived and a judgment^(AM) was given in favor of the holy ones of the Most High, for the time had come, and the holy ones took possession of the kingdom.

²³ “This is what he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, different from all the other kingdoms. It will devour the whole earth, trample it down, and crush it. ²⁴ The 10 horns^(AN) are 10 kings who will rise from this kingdom. Another, different from the previous ones, will rise after them and subdue three kings. ²⁵ He will speak words against the Most High^(AO) and oppress^[c] the holy ones^(AP) of the Most High. He will intend to change religious festivals^[d] and laws,^(AQ) and the holy ones will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time.^{[e](AR) 26} But the court will convene,^(AS) and his dominion will be taken away, to be completely destroyed forever.^{(AT) 27} The kingdom, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the holy ones of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom,^(AU) and all rulers will serve and obey Him.’

²⁸ “This is the end of the interpretation. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts terrified me greatly,^(AV) and my face turned pale,^[f] but I kept the matter to myself.”^(AW)

¹⁰ and they saw^(A) the God of Israel. Beneath His feet was something like a pavement made of sapphire^[a] stone, as clear as the sky itself.^(B)

¹⁹ Then Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on His throne,^(A) and the whole heavenly host^(B) was standing by Him at His right hand and at His left hand.