Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
Ezekiel 1
Among the exiles
In the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, I was among the exiles beside the Kebar River. The heavens opened, and I saw visions of God. It was the fifth day of the month, in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s exile. The word of the LORD came to Ezekiel the priest, son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans beside the Kebar River. There the hand of the LORD came upon him.
The living creatures
I looked: a storm wind was coming from the north, a great cloud with fire flashing within it and brightness all around. At its center, within the fire, something gleamed like glowing metal. Within it was the likeness of four living creatures. This is how they appeared: they had a human likeness, but each had four faces and four wings. Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the soles of a calf’s feet. They sparkled like polished bronze. They had human hands beneath their wings on all four sides. All four had faces and wings. Their wings touched one another. They did not turn as they moved; each went straight ahead. As for their faces, all four had a human face, a lion’s face on the right, an ox’s face on the left, and an eagle’s face. Such were their faces. Their wings spread upward; each had two wings touching another creature’s wings and two covering its body. Each went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they went, without turning as they moved. The living creatures looked like burning coals of fire, like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it shone brightly, and lightning flashed from it. The creatures darted back and forth like flashes of lightning.
The wheels
As I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground beside each of the four-faced creatures. The wheels and their workmanship gleamed like beryl. All four had the same likeness, and each looked as though one wheel were set within another. They could move in any of their four directions without turning as they went. Their rims were high and awe-inspiring, and the rims of all four were full of eyes all around. When the living creatures moved, the wheels moved beside them. When the creatures rose from the ground, the wheels rose too. Wherever the spirit would go, they went—that was where the spirit would go. The wheels rose alongside them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. When the creatures moved, the wheels moved; when they stood still, the wheels stood still. When the creatures rose from the ground, the wheels rose alongside them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
The expanse and the throne
Above the heads of the living creatures was the likeness of an expanse, stretched out over them, gleaming like awe-inspiring ice. Beneath the expanse their wings stretched straight toward one another. Each had two wings covering its body—two covering its body. As they moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of great waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a tumult like the noise of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings. A voice came from above the expanse over their heads. When they stood still, they lowered their wings. Above the expanse over their heads was the likeness of a throne, with the appearance of sapphire. High above, on that throne-like form, was a likeness with a human appearance. From what looked like his waist upward, I saw a gleam like glowing metal, like fire enclosed all around. From what looked like his waist downward, I saw something like fire, with brightness surrounding him. The brightness around him looked like the rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown and heard a voice speaking.