The Babylonian Exile

Now in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth of the month, as I was among the captives by the river Chebar, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.

In the fifth of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin’s captivity,

the LORD’s word came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Kasdim by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there on him.

I looked, and behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, a great cloud, with flashing lightning, and a brightness around it, and out of its midst as it were glowing metal, out of the midst of the fire.

Out of its midst came the likeness of four living creatures. This was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man.

Everyone had four faces, and each one of them had four wings.

Their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf’s foot; and they sparkled like burnished brass.

They had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and the four of them had their faces and their wings thus:

their wings were joined one to another; they didn’t turn when they went; each one went straight forward.

As for the likeness of their faces, they had the face of a man; and the four of them had the face of a lion on the right side; and the four of them had the face of an ox on the left side; the four of them also had the face of an eagle.

Such were their faces. Their wings were spread out above. Two wings of each one touched another, and two covered their bodies.

Each one went straight forward: where the spirit was to go, they went; they didn’t turn when they went.

As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches: the fire went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and lightning went out of the fire.

The living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.

Now as I saw the living creatures, behold, one wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, for each of the four faces of it.

The appearance of the wheels and their work was like a beryl: and the four of them had one likeness; and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel within a wheel.

When they went, they went in their four directions: they didn’t turn when they went.

As for their rims, they were high and dreadful; and the four of them had their rims full of eyes all around.

When the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.

Wherever the spirit was to go, they went; there was the spirit to go: and the wheels were lifted up beside them; for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.

When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up beside them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.

Over the head of the living creature there was the likeness of an expanse, like the awesome crystal to look on, stretched out over their heads above.

Under the expanse were their wings straight, the one toward the other: each one had two which covered on this side, and every one had two which covered on that side, their bodies.

When they went, I heard the noise of their wings like the noise of great waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a noise of tumult like the noise of an army: when they stood, they let down their wings.

There was a voice above the expanse that was over their heads: when they stood, they let down their wings.