| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1On the fifth day of the fourth month of the thirtieth year of the exile to Babylon, while I was among the captives on the bank of the Chebar River, heaven opened up and I saw visions from God. | 1In the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was among the exiles at the Kebar River, the heavens opened and I saw a divine vision. |
| 2On the fifth day of the month in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin's imprisonment in exile, | 2(On the fifth day of the month--it was the fifth year of King Jehoiachin's exile-- |
| 3a message from the LORD came directly to Buzi's son Ezekiel, the priest, by the Chebar River in the land of the Chaldeans. The hand of the LORD rested upon him there. | 3the word of the LORD came to the priest Ezekiel the son of Buzi, at the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians. The hand of the LORD came on him there). |
| 4I was amazed to see a wind storm blow in from the north, consisting of a massive cloud and fire that was flashing back and forth, surrounded by bright light. From deep within the cloud, something was shining that appeared to have a color like bronze that had been placed in fire until it glowed. | 4As I watched, I noticed a windstorm coming from the north--an enormous cloud, with lightning flashing, such that bright light rimmed it and came from it like glowing amber from the middle of a fire. |
| 5Deep inside it, the likenesses of four living beings were visible. Their appearances were similar to human forms, | 5In the fire were what looked like four living beings. In their appearance they had human form, |
| 6except that they each had four faces, four pairs of wings, | 6but each had four faces and four wings. |
| 7and straight legs. Their feet resembled calves' hooves, but they gleamed like polished bronze. | 7Their legs were straight, but the soles of their feet were like calves' feet. They gleamed like polished bronze. |
| 8From under their wings there were human hands on their four sides. Now as to their four faces and four pairs of wings, | 8They had human hands under their wings on their four sides. As for the faces and wings of the four of them, |
| 9their pairs of wings overlapped each other. They moved in straight directions without turning their faces around as they moved. | 9their wings touched each other; they did not turn as they moved, but went straight ahead. |
| 10The form of their faces was human, but each of the four also had the face of a lion to the right, the face of an ox to the left, and the face of an eagle behind them. | 10Their faces had this appearance: Each of the four had the face of a man, with the face of a lion on the right, the face of an ox on the left and also the face of an eagle. |
| 11That's what their faces were like. Their wings spread out above and around them, one pair overlapping another, with one pair covering themselves. | 11Their wings were spread out above them; each had two wings touching the wings of one of the other beings on either side and two wings covering their bodies. |
| 12Each moved in straight directions. Wherever they decided to go, they went without turning themselves. | 12Each moved straight ahead--wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went. |
| 13Now, in the midst of the living beings there was something that appeared to glow like coals kindled by a fire, like torches that moved back and forth between the living beings. The fire was dazzling, and lightning flashed from the fire. | 13In the middle of the living beings was something like burning coals of fire or like torches. It moved back and forth among the living beings. It was bright, and lightning was flashing out of the fire. |
| 14The living beings moved around, in appearance resembling lightning. | 14The living beings moved backward and forward as quickly as flashes of lightning. |
| 15As I observed the living beings, I noticed one wheel on the earth beside each being—that is, for the four of them. | 15Then I looked, and I saw one wheel on the ground beside each of the four beings. |
| 16Their wheels and their construction details looked like gold-colored beryl. Each wheel was identical in form to the others, and they appeared to have been constructed and designed as if one wheel were within another. | 16The appearance of the wheels and their construction was like gleaming jasper, and all four wheels looked alike. Their structure was like a wheel within a wheel. |
| 17Whenever the four moved, no matter which of four directions, they moved without turning around. | 17When they moved they would go in any of the four directions they faced without turning as they moved. |
| 18Their wheel rims were ornate and terrifying. They were full of eyes that surrounded the four of them. | 18Their rims were high and awesome, and the rims of all four wheels were full of eyes all around. |
| 19Whenever the living beings moved, the wheels moved, too. Whenever the living beings rose from the earth, the wheels rose also. | 19When the living beings moved, the wheels beside them moved; when the living beings rose up from the ground, the wheels rose up too. |
| 20Whatever direction these spirits went, the wheels would be lifted up along with them, because the wheels were alive. | 20Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise up beside them because the spirit of the living being was in the wheel. |
| 21They moved around whenever they wanted to move around, and they stood still whenever they wanted to stand still; and whenever they rose from the earth, the wheels remained close beside them, because the wheels were also alive. | 21When the living beings moved, the wheels moved, and when they stopped moving, the wheels stopped. When they rose up from the ground, the wheels rose up from the ground; the wheels rose up beside them because the spirit of the living being was in the wheel. |
| 22There was spread out over the heads of the living beings what looked like a canopy, in outward appearance resembling ice, | 22Over the heads of the living beings was something like a platform, glittering awesomely like ice, stretched out over their heads. |
| 23and underneath the canopy, their wings spread out straight over their heads toward each other. They each also had two wings with which they covered themselves, one wing covering its body on one side and one wing covering itself on the other side. | 23Under the platform their wings were stretched out, each toward the other. Each of the beings also had two wings covering its body. |
| 24I also heard the sound of their wings, like the sound of roaring water, like the voice of the Almighty, or like a boisterous crowd within an army camp. Whenever they stopped flying, they lowered their wings. | 24When they moved, I heard the sound of their wings--it was like the sound of rushing waters, or the voice of the Almighty, or the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings. |
| 25A sound came from above the canopy that was spread out over their heads. Whenever they stood still, they lowered their wings. | 25Then there was a voice from above the platform over their heads when they stood still. |
| 26From above the canopy that was spread out over their heads, there appeared to be something reminiscent of a throne, resembling sapphire in form. There was the likeness of the appearance of a human being seated on the likeness of the throne high above. | 26Above the platform over their heads was something like a sapphire shaped like a throne. High above on the throne was a form that appeared to be a man. |
| 27I noticed that from what appeared to look like his waist upward there was something that looked like metal that glowed as if it were immersed in fire. Below this there was something resembling fire, with a radiant light surrounding him. | 27I saw an amber glow like a fire enclosed all around from his waist up. From his waist down I saw something that looked like fire. There was a brilliant light around it, |
| 28The appearance of the radiant light resembled that of a rainbow shining in a cloud on a rainy day. This was what the appearance of the form of the glory of the LORD resembled. When I saw all of this, I fell flat on my face. Then I heard a voice speaking. | 28like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds after the rain. This was the appearance of the surrounding brilliant light; it looked like the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I threw myself face down, and I heard a voice speaking. |
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