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 were 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 the priest Ezekiel^(F) son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans^(G) by the Chebar Canal. 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 huge 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 likeness of four living creatures came from it,^(K) and this was their appearance: They looked something like a human, 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} Their faces looked something like the face of a human,^(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 likeness of the living creatures was like the appearance of blazing coals of fire or like 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 of the four-faced creatures. ¹⁶ The appearance of the wheels^(X) and their craftsmanship was like the gleam of beryl,^(Y) and all four had the same likeness. Their appearance and craftsmanship was like a wheel within a wheel. ¹⁷ When they moved, they went in any of the four directions, without turning as they moved. ¹⁸ Their four rims were tall and awe-inspiring, completely covered with eyes.^{(Z) 19} 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 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 stopped, the wheels stopped; 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 Over the heads of the living creatures^(AB) the likeness of an expanse^(AC) was spread out. It gleamed like awe-inspiring crystal,^{(AD) 23} and under the expanse their wings extended one toward another. They each also had two wings covering their bodies. ²⁴ When they moved, I heard the sound of their wings like the roar of a huge torrent,^(AE) like the voice of the Almighty,^(AF) and a sound of tumult like the noise of an army.^(AG) When they stopped, they lowered their wings.

²⁵ A voice came from above the expanse over their heads; when they stopped, they lowered their wings. ²⁶ Something like a throne with the appearance of lapis lazuli was above the expanse over their heads.^(AH) On the throne, high above, was someone who looked like a human.^{(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 likeness 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^[b] the rebellious pagans who have rebelled against me. The Israelites and their ancestors have transgressed against me to this day.^{(AP) 4} The descendants are obstinate^[c] 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 and do not be afraid of their words,^(AT) even though briers and thorns are beside you and you live among scorpions.^(AU) Don’t be afraid of their words or discouraged by the look on their faces, for they are a rebellious house. ⁷ 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.

The Throne Room of Heaven

4 After this I looked, and there in heaven was an open door. The first voice that I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet^(A) said, “Come up here,^(B) and I will show you what must take place after this.”^(C)

² Immediately I was in the Spirit,^(D) and there was a throne in heaven^(E) and someone was seated on it. ³ The one seated^[a] there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian stone.^(F) A rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald surrounded the throne.^(G)

⁴ Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones sat twenty-four elders^(H) dressed in white clothes,^(I) with golden crowns on their heads.^(J)

⁵ Flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder came from the throne.^(K) Seven fiery torches were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.^{(L) 6} Something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal, was also before the throne.^(M)

Four living creatures covered with eyes in front and in back were around the throne on each side. ⁷ The first living creature was like a lion; the second living creature was like an ox; the third living creature had a face like a man; and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.^{(N) 8} Each of the four living creatures had six wings;^(O) they were covered with eyes around and inside. Day and night^(P) they never stop,^[b] saying,

⁹ Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the one seated on the throne, the one who lives forever and ever,^{(R) 10} the twenty-four elders fall down before the one seated on the throne^(S) and worship the one who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne and say,