Ezekiel 1

1Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was in the midst of the captivity by the River Chebar, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.

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2On the fifth day of the month, in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin's captivity,

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3the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Chebar; and the hand of the Lord was upon me.

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4I looked, and behold, a sweeping wind came from the north, and a great cloud was in it, with a surrounding brightness and fire flashing forth from it. In its midst was something like the appearance of amber in the middle of the fire, and a brightness in it.

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5In the midst, there was as it were the likeness of four living creatures. This was their appearance, and the likeness of a man upon them.

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6Each had four faces, and each had four wings.

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7Their legs were straight, and their feet were winged. There were sparks like gleaming brass, and their wings were light.

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8The hand of a man was underneath their wings on their four sides.

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9The faces of those four did not turn as they proceeded, and they went with each face opposite the other.

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10This was the likeness of their faces: the face of a man, the face of a lion on the right side of the foursome, the face of an ox on the left, and the face of an eagle.

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11Their wings were spread out above them. Each had two wings joined together, and two wings covered up their bodies.

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12Each went straight forward wherever the spirit was going, and did not turn back.

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13In the midst of the living creatures there was an appearance as of burning coals of fire, as an appearance of lamps turning among the living creatures. There was the brightness of fire, and out of the fire lightning came forth.

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14I looked and behold, there was one wheel on the earth next to each living creature with its four faces.

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15The appearance of the wheels was like the appearance of beryl, and each of the four had one likeness; and their work was as it were a wheel within a wheel.

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16They went on their four sides, and did not turn when they went.

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17Neither did their backs turn, and they were high. I saw them, and the backs of all four were full of eyes all around.

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18When the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.

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19Wherever the cloud happened to be, there was the spirit ready to go. The living creatures went, and the wheels went with them, for the spirit of life was in the wheels.

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20When the living creatures went, the wheels went; when the living creatures came to a stop, the wheels stopped; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up with them, for the spirit of life was in the wheels.

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21The likeness above the heads of the living creatures was like a firmament, like the appearance of crystal, spread out over their wings above.

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22Their wings were outspread underneath the firmament, clapping their wings one to the other, two wings joined to each, and two wings covering up their bodies.

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23I heard the sound of their wings when they went, like the sound of much water; and when they stood still, their wings rested.

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24Then behold, a voice came from above the firmament, above their head.

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25There was as it were the appearance of a sapphire stone, and the likeness of a throne upon it. Upon the likeness of the throne there was as it were the appearance of a man above.

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26Then I saw as it were the outward appearance of amber from the appearance of the waist and upward. From the appearance of the waist and downward I saw as it were the appearance of fire with brightness round about.

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27Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the condition of the surrounding brightness.

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28This was the vision of the likeness of the Lord's glory. I saw it, and I fell down on my face, and heard the voice of One speaking.

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