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.

¹⁹ so that there was the face of a man toward the palm tree on the one side, and the face of a young lion toward the palm tree on the other side. [thus was it] made through all the house all around:

¹ Let God arise! Let his enemies be scattered! Let them who hate him also flee before him.

² As smoke is driven away, so drive them away. As wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.

³ But let the righteous be glad. Let them rejoice before God. Yes, let them rejoice with gladness.

⁴ Sing to God! Sing praises to his name! Extol him who rides on the clouds: to Yah, his name! Rejoice before him!

⁵ A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.

⁶ God sets the lonely in families. He brings out the prisoners with singing, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land.

⁷ God, when you went forth before your people, when you marched through the wilderness... Selah.

⁸ The earth trembled. The sky also poured down rain at the presence of the God of Sinai-- at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

⁹ You, God, sent a plentiful rain. You confirmed your inheritance, when it was weary.

¹⁰ Your congregation lived therein. You, God, prepared your goodness for the poor.

¹¹ The Lord announced the word. The ones who proclaim it are a great company.

¹² "Kings of armies flee! They flee!" She who waits at home divides the spoil,

¹³ while you sleep among the campfires, the wings of a dove sheathed with silver, her feathers with shining gold.

¹⁴ When the Almighty scattered kings in her, it snowed on Zalmon.

¹⁵ The mountains of Bashan are majestic mountains. The mountains of Bashan are rugged.

¹⁶ Why do you look in envy, you rugged mountains, at the mountain where God chooses to reign? Yes, Yahweh will dwell there forever.

¹⁷ The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands. The Lord is among them, from Sinai, into the sanctuary.

¹⁸ You have ascended on high. You have led away captives. You have received gifts among men, yes, among the rebellious also, that Yah God might dwell there.

¹⁹ Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burdens, even the God who is our salvation. Selah.

²⁰ God is to us a God of deliverance. To Yahweh, the Lord, belongs escape from death.

²¹ But God will strike through the head of his enemies, the hairy scalp of such a one as still continues in his guiltiness.

²² The Lord said, "I will bring you again from Bashan, I will bring you again from the depths of the sea;

²³ That you may crush them, dipping your foot in blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from your enemies."

²⁴ They have seen your processions, God, even the processions of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.

²⁵ The singers went before, the minstrels followed after, in the midst of the ladies playing with tambourines,

²⁶ "Bless God in the congregations, even the Lord in the assembly of Israel!"

²⁷ There is little Benjamin, their ruler, the princes of Judah, their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.

²⁸ Your God has commanded your strength. Strengthen, God, that which you have done for us.

²⁹ Because of your temple at Jerusalem, kings shall bring presents to you.

³⁰ Rebuke the wild animal of the reeds, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the peoples. Being humbled, may it bring bars of silver. Scatter the nations that delight in war.

³¹ Princes shall come out of Egypt. Ethiopia shall hurry to stretch out her hands to God.

³² Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth! Sing praises to the Lord! Selah.

³³ To him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which are of old; behold, he utters his voice, a mighty voice.

³⁴ Ascribe strength to God! His excellency is over Israel, his strength is in the skies.

³⁵ You are awesome, God, in your sanctuaries. The God of Israel gives strength and power to his people. Praise be to God! For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "Lilies." By David.