Ezekiel 1

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 In the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was among the exiles by the river Chebar, the heavens opened, and I saw divine visions.--	1 And it happened that, in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth of the month, when I was in the midst of the captives beside the river Chebar, the heavens were opened, and I saw the visions of God.
2 On the fifth day of the month, the fifth year, that is, of King Jehoiachin's exile,	2 On the fifth of the month, the same is the fifth year of the transmigration of king Joachin,
3 the word of the LORD came to the priest Ezekiel, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar.--There the hand of the LORD came upon me.	3 the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel, a priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans, next to the river Chebar. And the hand of the Lord was over him there.
4 As I looked, a stormwind came from the North, a huge cloud with flashing fire (enveloped in brightness), from the midst of which (the midst of the fire) something gleamed like electrum.	4 And I saw, and behold, a whirlwind arrived from the north. And a great cloud, wrapped in fire and brightness, was all around it. And from its midst, that is, from the midst of the fire, there was something with the appearance of amber.
5 Within it were figures resembling four living creatures that looked like this: their form was human,	5 And in its midst, there was the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: the likeness of a man was in them.
6 but each had four faces and four wings,	6 Each one had four faces, and each one had four wings.
7 and their legs went straight down; the soles of their feet were round. They sparkled with a gleam like burnished bronze.	7 Their feet were straight feet, and the sole of their foot was like the sole of the foot of a calf, and they sparkled with the appearance of glowing brass.
8 Human hands were under their wings, and the wings of one touched those of another.	8 And they had the hands of a man under their wings on the four sides. And they had faces with the wings on the four sides.
9 Their faces (and their wings) looked out on all their four sides; they did not turn when they moved, but each went straight forward.	9 And their wings were joined to one another. They did not turn as they went. Instead, each one advanced before his face.
10 Their faces were like this: each of the four had the face of a man, but on the right side was the face of a lion, and on the left side the face of an ox, and finally each had the face of an eagle.	10 But as for the likeness of their face, there was the face of a man, and the face of a lion on the right of each of the four, then the face of an ox on the left of each of the four, and the face of an eagle above each of the four.
11 Each had two wings spread out above so that they touched one another's, while the other two wings of each covered his body.	11 Their faces and their wings were extended above: two wings of each one were joined together, and two covered their bodies.
12 (Each went straight forward; wherever the spirit wished to go, there they went; they did not turn when they moved.)	12 And each one of them advanced before his face. Wherever the impetus of the spirit was to go, there they went. And they did not turn as they advanced.
13 In among the living creatures something like burning coals of fire could be seen; they seemed like torches, moving to and fro among the living creatures. The fire gleamed, and from it came forth flashes of lightning.	13 And as for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like that of burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps. This was the vision dashing in the midst of the living creatures, a bright fire, with lightning going forth from the fire.
	14 And the living creatures went and returned like flashes of lightning.
15 As I looked at the living creatures, I saw wheels on the ground, one beside each of the four living creatures.	15 And as I beheld the living creatures, there appeared above the earth, next to the living creatures, one wheel having four faces.
16 The wheels had the sparkling appearance of chrysolite, and all four of them looked the same: they were constructed as though one wheel were within another.	16 And the appearance of the wheels and their work was like the appearance of the sea. And each of the four were similar to one another. And their appearance and work was like a wheel in the center of a wheel.
17 They could move in any of the four directions they faced, without veering as they moved.	17 Going forth, they went by means of their four parts. And they did not turn as they went.
18 The four of them had rims, and I saw that their rims were full of eyes all around.	18 Also, the size and height and appearance of the wheels was dreadful. And the entire body was full of eyes all around each of the four.
19 When the living creatures moved, the wheels moved with them; and when the living creatures were raised from the ground, the wheels also were raised.	19 And when the living creatures advanced, the wheels advanced together with them. And when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels, too, were lifted up at the same time.
20 Wherever the spirit wished to go, there the wheels went, and they were raised together with the living creatures; for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.	20 Wherever the spirit went, as the spirit was going forth to that place, the wheels, too, were lifted up together, so as to follow them. For the spirit of life was in the wheels.
	21 When going forth, they went forth, and when standing still, they stood still. And when they were lifted up from the earth, the wheels, too, were lifted up together, so as to follow them. For the spirit of life was in the wheels.
22 Over the heads of the living creatures, something like a firmament could be seen, seeming like glittering crystal, stretched straight out above their heads.	22 And above the heads of the living creatures was the likeness of a firmament: similar to crystal, but dreadful to behold, and extending over their heads from above.
23 Beneath the firmament their wings were stretched out, one toward the other. (Each of them had two covering his body.)	23 And their wings were straight under the firmament, one toward the other. One of them was covered by two wings on his body, and the other was covered similarly.
24 Then I heard the sound of their wings, like the roaring of mighty waters, like the voice of the Almighty. When they moved, the sound of the tumult was like the din of an army. (And when they stood still, they lowered their wings.)	24 And I heard the sound of their wings, like the sound of many waters, like the sound of the sublime God. When they walked, it was like the sound of a multitude, like the sound of an army. And when they stood still, their wings were let down.
	25 For when a voice came from above the firmament, which was over their heads, they stood still, and they put down their wings.
26 Above the firmament over their heads something like a throne could be seen, looking like sapphire. Upon it was seated, up above, one who had the appearance of a man.	26 And above the firmament, which was suspended over their heads, there was the likeness of a throne, with the appearance of the sapphire stone. And over the likeness of the throne, there was a likeness with the appearance of a man above it.
27 Upward from what resembled his waist I saw what gleamed like electrum; downward from what resembled his waist I saw what looked like fire; he was surrounded with splendor.	27 And I saw something with the appearance of amber, with the likeness of fire within it and all around it. And from his waist and upward, and from his waist downward, I saw something with the appearance of fire shining all around.
28 Like the bow which appears in the clouds on a rainy day was the splendor that surrounded him. Such was the vision of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I had seen it, I fell upon my face and heard a voice that said to me:	28 There was the appearance of the rainbow, as when it is in a cloud on a rainy day. This was the appearance of the splendor on every side.