Christian Standard Bible | New International Version |
1In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, while I was among the exiles by the Chebar Canal, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. | 1In my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. |
2On the fifth day of the month--it was the fifth year of King Jehoiachin's exile-- | 2On the fifth of the month--it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin-- |
3the word of the LORD came directly to the priest Ezekiel son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Chebar Canal. The LORD's hand was on him there. | 3the word of the LORD came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, by the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians. There the hand of the LORD was on him. |
4I looked, and there was a whirlwind coming from the north, a huge cloud with fire flashing back and forth and brilliant light all around it. In the center of the fire, there was a gleam like amber. | 4I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north--an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal, |
5The likeness of four living creatures came from it, and this was their appearance: They looked something like a human, | 5and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance their form was human, |
6but each of them had four faces and four wings. | 6but each of them had four faces and four wings. |
7Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the hooves of a calf, sparkling like the gleam of polished bronze. | 7Their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished bronze. |
8They had human hands under their wings on their four sides. All four of them had faces and wings. | 8Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. All four of them had faces and wings, |
9Their wings were touching. The creatures did not turn as they moved; each one went straight ahead. | 9and the wings of one touched the wings of another. Each one went straight ahead; they did not turn as they moved. |
10Their faces looked something like the face of a human, and each of the four had the face of a lion on the right, the face of an ox on the left, and the face of an eagle. | 10Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a human being, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle. |
11That is what their faces were like. Their wings were spread upward; each had two wings touching that of another and two wings covering its body. | 11Such were their faces. They each had two wings spreading out upward, each wing touching that of the creature on either side; and each had two other wings covering its body. |
12Each creature went straight ahead. Wherever the Spirit wanted to go, they went without turning as they moved. | 12Each one went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went. |
13The likeness of the living creatures was like the appearance of blazing coals of fire or like torches. Fire was moving back and forth between the living creatures; it was bright, with lightning coming out of it. | 13The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it. |
14The creatures were darting back and forth like flashes of lightning. | 14The creatures sped back and forth like flashes of lightning. |
15When I looked at the living creatures, there was one wheel on the ground beside each of the four-faced creatures. | 15As I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground beside each creature with its four faces. |
16The appearance of the wheels and their craftsmanship was like the gleam of beryl, and all four had the same likeness. Their appearance and craftsmanship was like a wheel within a wheel. | 16This was the appearance and structure of the wheels: They sparkled like topaz, and all four looked alike. Each appeared to be made like a wheel intersecting a wheel. |
17When they moved, they went in any of the four directions, without turning as they moved. | 17As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the creatures faced; the wheels did not change direction as the creatures went. |
18Their rims were tall and awe-inspiring. Each of their four rims were full of eyes all around. | 18Their rims were high and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyes all around. |
19When the living creatures moved, the wheels moved beside them, and when the creatures rose from the earth, the wheels also rose. | 19When the living creatures moved, the wheels beside them moved; and when the living creatures rose from the ground, the wheels also rose. |
20Wherever the Spirit wanted to go, the creatures went in the direction the Spirit was moving. The wheels rose alongside them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. | 20Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. |
21When the creatures moved, the wheels moved; when the creatures stopped, the wheels stopped; and when the creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose alongside them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. | 21When the creatures moved, they also moved; when the creatures stood still, they also stood still; and when the creatures rose from the ground, the wheels rose along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. |
22Over the heads of the living creatures the likeness of an expanse was spread out. It gleamed like awe-inspiring crystal, | 22Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was what looked something like a vault, sparkling like crystal, and awesome. |
23and under the expanse their wings extended one toward another. They each also had two wings covering their bodies. | 23Under the vault their wings were stretched out one toward the other, and each had two wings covering its body. |
24When they moved, I heard the sound of their wings like the roar of a huge torrent, like the voice of the Almighty, and a sound of tumult like the noise of an army. When they stopped, they lowered their wings. | 24When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushing waters, like the voice of the Almighty, like the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings. |
25A voice came from above the expanse over their heads; when they stopped, they lowered their wings. | 25Then there came a voice from above the vault over their heads as they stood with lowered wings. |
26Something like a throne with the appearance of lapis lazuli was above the expanse over their heads. On the throne, high above, was someone who looked like a human. | 26Above the vault over their heads was what looked like a throne of lapis lazuli, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. |
27From what seemed to be his waist up, I saw a gleam like amber, with what looked like fire enclosing it all around. From what seemed to be his waist down, I also saw what looked like fire. There was a brilliant light all around him. | 27I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. |
28The appearance of the brilliant light all around was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. This was the appearance of the likeness of the LORD's glory. When I saw it, I fell facedown and heard a voice speaking. | 28Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking. |
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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