The Bible
Ezekiel Chapter 1
1Now in the thirtieth year, in the fourth [month], in the fifth [day] of the month, as I was among the captives by the river Chebar, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God
2In the fifth [day] of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity, 3the word of ForeverOne
4I 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.
5Out of its midst came the likeness of four living creatures. This was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man.
6Everyone had four faces, and each one of them had four wings.
7Their 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.
8They 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]: 9their wings were joined one to another; they didn't turn when they went; each one went straight forward.
10As 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.
11Such were their faces. Their wings were spread out above. Two wings of each one touched another, and two covered their bodies.
12Each one went straight forward: where the spirit was to go, they went; they didn't turn when they went.
13As 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 out of the fire went forth lightning.
14The living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.
15Now as I saw the living creatures, behold, one wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, for each of the four faces of it.
16The 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.
17When they went, they went in their four directions: they didn't turn when they went.
18As for their rims, they were high and dreadful; and the four of them had their rims full of eyes all around.
19When 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.
20Wherever 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.
21When 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.
22Over the head of the living creature there was the likeness of an expanse, like the awesome crystal to look on, stretched forth over their heads above.
23Under 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.
24When they went, I heard the noise of their wings like the noise of great waters, like the voice of the Almighty
25There was a voice above the expanse that was over their heads: when they stood, they let down their wings.
26Above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone; and on the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man on it above.
27I saw as it were glowing metal, as the appearance of fire within it all around, from the appearance of his waist and upward; and from the appearance of his waist and downward I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him.
28As the appearance of the rainbow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of ForeverOne
The Bible text is a minor adaptation of the WEB
to include nuanced meanings of particular ancient words for placenames, God and others of special interest.
In general square brackets:[] are used to indicated words not found in the original text.
They also indicate the 5 books of the Psalms, and the letters in Psalm 119;
and a few passages considered by some to be of questionable authenticity, marked with an asterisk(*).