Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, while I was among the exiles by the Chebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions from God. In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of King Jehoiachin's captivity, the 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 there. The word of the Lord came directly to Ezekiel, the priest and son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar, where the hand of the Lord was upon him.

A whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud with a fire at its center that surrounded itself, and within it was a brilliant light like amber. Out of its center came the likeness of four living creatures, each having the appearance of a man. Every one of them had four faces and four wings. Their feet were straight, with soles like those of a calf's foot, and they sparkled like burnished brass.

They had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and each of the four had its own distinct face and wings. Their wings were joined one to another; they went every one straight forward. As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man on the right side and the face of an ox on the left side, with the face of a lion on the right side of each one and the face of an eagle.

Their faces were thus, and their wings stretched upward; two of every one joined to another, and two covered their bodies. They went straight forward, wherever the spirit led them, without turning. As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, with lamps that moved up and down among them, shining brightly as lightning flashed out from within.

As I watched, the living creatures darted back and forth like flashes of lightning. As I beheld the living creatures, one wheel was on the earth beside each of them with four faces. The appearance of the wheels and their work was like the color of a beryl, with four identical ones in the middle of each other, forming a wheel within a wheel.

When they moved, they went on their four sides without turning. As for their rings, they were so high that they were awe-inspiring; and their rings were full of eyes all around them four. When the living creatures moved, the wheels moved with them; and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up beside them.

Wherever the spirit was to go, they went; and when those stood still, these stood still; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. The likeness of the firmament above the living creatures was like the color of a brilliant crystal, stretched out over their heads.

Under the firmament, their wings stretched out straight in opposite directions, with each wing covering one side and another wing covering the other side, while their bodies remained intact. And when they moved, I heard the sound of their wings like the roar of mighty waters, with the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, like the tumult of a vast army; when they stood still, they lowered their wings.

And there was a voice from the firmament above them when they stood with their wings lowered. Above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, resembling the appearance of a sapphire stone; and upon it was a man seated above. And I saw that it resembled the color of amber, with fire all around it, from its loins upward and downward, with a fiery appearance that shone brightly all around.

As the appearance of the bow in the cloud on a rainy day, so was the brilliance surrounding it - this was the likeness of the glory of the Lord; and when I saw it, I fell to the ground, and I heard a voice speaking.