¹ Now it happened 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, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.

² In the fifth [day] of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity,

³ the word of Yahweh came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of Yahweh was there on him.

⁴ 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.

⁵ Out of its midst came the likeness of four living creatures. This was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man.

⁶ Everyone had four faces, and each one of them had four wings.

⁷ 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.

⁸ 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]:

⁹ their wings were joined one to another; they didn't turn when they went; each one went straight forward.

¹⁰ 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.

¹¹ Such were their faces. Their wings were spread out above. Two wings of each one touched another, and Two covered their bodies.

¹² Each one went straight forward: where the spirit was to go, they went; they didn't turn when they went.

¹³ 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 out of the fire went forth lightning.

¹⁴ The living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.

¹⁵ 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.

¹⁶ 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.

¹⁷ When they went, they went in their four directions: they didn't turn when they went.

¹⁸ As for their rims, they were high and dreadful; and the four of them had their rims full of eyes all around.

¹⁹ 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.

²⁰ 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.

²¹ 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.

²² Over 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.

²³ 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.

²⁴ 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.

²⁵ There was a voice above the expanse that was over their heads: when they stood, they let down their wings.

²⁶ Above 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.

²⁷ I 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.

²⁸ As 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 Yahweh. When I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of one that spoke.

¹ Save me, God, for the waters have come up to my neck!

² I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold. I have come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.

³ I am weary with my crying. My throat is dry. My eyes fail, looking for my God.

⁴ Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head. Those who want to cut me off, being my enemies wrongfully, are mighty. I have to restore what I didn't take away.

⁵ God, you know my foolishness. My sins aren't hidden from you.

⁶ Don't let those who wait for you be shamed through me, Lord Yahweh of Armies. Don't let those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, God of Israel.

⁷ Because for your sake, I have borne reproach. Shame has covered my face.

⁸ I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother's children.

⁹ For the zeal of your house consumes me. The reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.

¹⁰ When I wept and I fasted, that was to my reproach.

¹¹ When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.

¹² Those who sit in the gate talk about me. I am the song of the drunkards.

¹³ But as for me, my prayer is to you, Yahweh, in an acceptable time. God, in the abundance of your loving kindness, answer me in the truth of your salvation.

¹⁴ Deliver me out of the mire, and don't let me sink. Let me be delivered from those who hate me, and out of the deep waters.

¹⁵ Don't let the flood waters overwhelm me, neither let the deep swallow me up. Don't let the pit shut its mouth on me.

¹⁶ Answer me, Yahweh, for your loving kindness is good. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, turn to me.

¹⁷ Don't hide your face from your servant, for I am in distress. Answer me speedily!

¹⁸ Draw near to my soul, and redeem it. Ransom me because of my enemies.

¹⁹ You know my reproach, my shame, and my dishonor. My adversaries are all before you.

²⁰ Reproach has broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness. I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; for comforters, but I found none.

²¹ They also gave me gall for my food. In my thirst, they gave me vinegar to drink.

²² Let their table before them become a snare. May it become a retribution and a trap.

²³ Let their eyes be darkened, so that they can't see. Let their backs be continually bent.

²⁴ Pour out your indignation on them. Let the fierceness of your anger overtake them.

²⁵ Let their habitation be desolate. Let no one dwell in their tents.

²⁶ For they persecute him whom you have wounded. They tell of the sorrow of those whom you have hurt.

²⁷ Charge them with crime upon crime. Don't let them come into your righteousness.

²⁸ Let them be blotted out of the book of life, and not be written with the righteous.

²⁹ But I am in pain and distress. Let your salvation, God, protect me.

³⁰ I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

³¹ It will please Yahweh better than an ox, or a bull that has horns and hoofs.

³² The humble have seen it, and are glad. You who seek after God, let your heart live.

³³ For Yahweh hears the needy, and doesn't despise his captive people.

³⁴ Let heaven and earth praise him; the seas, and everything that moves therein!

³⁵ For God will save Zion, and build the cities of Judah. They shall settle there, and own it.

³⁶ The children also of his servants shall inherit it. Those who love his name shall dwell therein. For the Chief Musician. By David. A reminder.