Ezekiel 1

Wheels Within Wheels, and a Likeness Like a Man

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The Vision by the River Chobar

1:1And it happened in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth of the month, while I was amid the captivity by the River Chebar: the heavens opened, and I saw visions of God.

1:2on the fifth of the month—this was the fifth year of King Jehoiakim’s captivity—

1:3the Lord’s word came to Ezekiel son of Buzi, the priest, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Chebar; and the Lord’s hand came upon me,

The Four Living Creatures

1:4and I looked, and behold, a sweeping wind was coming from the north, and a great cloud was within it, with brightness around it and lightning-flashing fire; within it was something like the appearance of electrum, within the fire, and brightness within it.

1:5And within it was something like a likeness of four living creatures. This was their appearance: a human likeness was upon them,

1:6and each had four faces, and each had four wings.

1:7Their legs were straight, and their feet were winged, with sparks like flashing bronze; and their wings were light.

1:8A human hand was beneath their wings on their four sides; and the faces of all four of them

1:9did not turn as they walked; each went straight toward its face.

1:10The likeness of their faces was a human face and a lion’s face on the right for all four, and a calf’s face on the left for all four, and an eagle’s face for all four.

1:11The wings of all four were stretched out above; each had two joined to one another, and two covered the top of their bodies.

1:12Each went straight toward its face. Wherever the spirit was going, they went and did not turn.

1:13And amid the living creatures was an appearance like burning coals of fire, like the sight of torches whirling among the living creatures, and brightness of the fire; lightning came out of the fire.

The Wheels Beside the Living Creatures

1:15I looked, and behold, one wheel was on the earth adjoining the four living creatures;

1:16the appearance of the wheels was like the appearance of tharsis, and all four had one likeness; their workmanship was as though a wheel were within a wheel.

1:17They went toward their four sides; they did not turn as they went,

1:18nor did their backs; they had height, and I saw them. The backs of all four were full of eyes all around.

1:19When the living creatures went, the wheels went adjoining them; when the living creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose.

1:20Wherever the cloud was, there was the spirit for going; the living creatures and the wheels went and rose together with them, because a spirit of life was in the wheels.

1:21When they went, these went; when they stood, these stood; when they rose from the earth, these rose together with them, because a spirit of life was in the wheels.

The Firmament and the Throne

1:22Above the living creatures’ heads was a likeness as of a firmament, like the appearance of crystal, stretched out above their wings;

1:23and beneath the firmament their wings were stretched out, fluttering one toward another; each had two joined together, covering their bodies.

1:24As they went, I heard the sound of their wings like the sound of much water; when they stood, their wings came to rest.

1:25And behold, a voice came from above the firmament that was over their heads.

1:26Like the appearance of a sapphire stone was the likeness of a throne upon it; and above the likeness of the throne was a likeness like the form of a human being.

1:27I saw something like the sight of electrum from the appearance of a waist upward; and from the appearance of a waist down below I saw something like the appearance of fire, with its brightness all around.

1:28Like the appearance of a bow when it is in the cloud on a rainy day, so was the disposition of the brightness all around. This was the appearance of the likeness of the Lord’s glory. I saw it, and I fall upon my face, and I heard the voice of One speaking.

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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.