Ezekiel 1

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	DOUAI-RHEIMS
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 Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, when I was in the midst of the captives by the river Chobar, 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 day of the month, the same was the fifth year of the captivity 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 Ezechiel the priest the son of Bud in the land of the Chaldeans, by the river Chobar: and the hand of the Lord was there upon him.
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 came out of the north: and a great cloud, and a fire infolding it, and brightness was about it: and out of the midst thereof, that is, out of the midst of the fire, as it were the resemblance of amber:
5 Within it were figures resembling four living creatures that looked like this: their form was human,	5 And in the midst thereof the likeness of four living creatures: and this was their appearance: there was the likeness of a man in them.
6 but each had four faces and four wings,	6 Every one had four faces, and every one 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 a calf's foot, and they sparkled like 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 their four sides: and they bad faces, and 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 the wings of one were joined to the wings of another. They turned not when they went: but every one went straight forward.
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 And as for the likeness of their faces: there was the face of a man, and the face of a lion on the right side of all the four: and the face of an ox, on the left side of all the four: and the face of an eagle over all 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 And their faces, and their wings were stretched upward: two wings of every one were joined, 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 every one of them went straight forward: whither the impulse of the spirit was to go, thither they went: and they turned not when they went.
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 running to and fro in the midst of the living creatures, a bright fire, and lightning going forth from the fire.
	14 And the living creatures ran 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 Now as I beheld the living creatures, there appeared upon the earth by the living creatures one wheel with 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 the work of them was like the appearance of the sea: and the four had all one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the midst of a wheel.
17 They could move in any of the four directions they faced, without veering as they moved.	17 When they went, they went by their four parts: and they turned not when they went.
18 The four of them had rims, and I saw that their rims were full of eyes all around.	18 The wheels had also a size, and a height, and a dreadful appearance: and the whole body was full of eyes round about all 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 went, the wheels also went together by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels also were lifted up with them.
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 Whithersoever the spirit went, thither as the spirit went the wheels also were lifted up withal, and followed it: for the spirit of life was in the wheels.
	21 When those went these went, and when those stood these stood, and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels also were lifted up together, and followed 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 over the heads of the living creatures was the likeness of the firmament, as the appearance of crystal terrible to behold, and stretched out over their heads above.
23 Beneath the firmament their wings were stretched out, one toward the other. (Each of them had two covering his body.)	23 And under the firmament were their wings straight, the one toward the other, every one with two wings covered his body, and the other was covered in like manner.
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 noise of their wings, like the noise of many waters, as it were the voice of the most high God: when they walked, it was like the voice of a multitude, like the noise of an army, and when they stood, their wings were let down.
	25 For when a voice came from above the firmament, that was over their heads, they stood, and let 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 that was over their heads, was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of the sapphire stone, and upon the likeness of the throne, was a likeness as of the appearance of a man above upon 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 as it were the resemblance of amber as the appearance of fire within it round about: from his loins and upward, and from his loins downward, I saw as it were the resemblance of fire shining round about.
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 As the appearance of the rainbow when it is in a cloud on a rainy day: this was the appearance of the brightness round about.