| International Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard 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, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, while I was among the exiles by the Chebar Canal, the heavens opened and I saw visions of God. |
| 2On the fifth day of the month in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin's imprisonment in exile, | 2On 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 directly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Chebar Canal. And the LORD's hand was 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. | 4I looked and there was a whirlwind coming from the north, a great cloud with fire flashing back and forth and brilliant light all around it. In the center of the fire, there was a gleam like amber. |
| 5Deep inside it, the likenesses of four living beings were visible. Their appearances were similar to human forms, | 5The form of four living creatures came from it. And this was their appearance: They had human form, |
| 6except that they each had four faces, four pairs of wings, | 6but each of them had four faces and four wings. |
| 7and straight legs. Their feet resembled calves' hooves, but they gleamed like polished bronze. | 7Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the hooves of a calf, sparkling like the gleam of 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. All four of them had faces and wings. |
| 9their pairs of wings overlapped each other. They moved in straight directions without turning their faces around as they moved. | 9Their wings were touching. The creatures did not turn as they moved; each one 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. | 10The form of each of their faces was that of a man, and each of the four had the face of a lion on the right, the face of an ox on the left, and 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. | 11That is what their faces were like. Their wings were spread upward; each had two wings touching that of another and two wings covering its body. |
| 12Each moved in straight directions. Wherever they decided to go, they went without turning themselves. | 12Each creature went straight ahead. Wherever the Spirit wanted to go, they went without turning as they moved. |
| 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. | 13The form of the living creatures was like the appearance of burning coals of fire and torches. Fire was moving back and forth between the living creatures; it was bright, with lightning coming out of it. |
| 14The living beings moved around, in appearance resembling lightning. | 14The creatures were darting back and forth like 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. | 15When I looked at the living creatures, there was one wheel on the ground beside each creature that had four faces. |
| 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 craftsmanship was like the gleam of beryl, and all four had the same form. Their appearance and craftsmanship 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 went in any of the four directions, without pivoting as they moved. |
| 18Their wheel rims were ornate and terrifying. They were full of eyes that surrounded the four of them. | 18Their rims were large and frightening. Each of their four rims 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. | 19So when the living creatures moved, the wheels moved beside them, and when the creatures rose from the earth, the wheels also rose. |
| 20Whatever direction these spirits went, the wheels would be lifted up along with them, because the wheels were alive. | 20Wherever the Spirit wanted to go, the creatures went in the direction the Spirit was moving. The wheels rose alongside them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. |
| 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 creatures moved, the wheels moved; when the creatures stood still, the wheels stood still; and when the creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose alongside them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. |
| 22There was spread out over the heads of the living beings what looked like a canopy, in outward appearance resembling ice, | 22The shape of an expanse, with a gleam like awe-inspiring crystal, was spread out over the heads of the living creatures. |
| 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. | 23And under the expanse their wings extended one toward another. Each of them also had two wings covering their bodies. |
| 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 like the roar of mighty waters, like the voice of the Almighty, and a sound of commotion like the noise 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. | 25A voice came from above the expanse over their heads; when they stood still, they lowered their wings. |
| 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. | 26The shape of a throne with the appearance of sapphire stone was above the expanse. There was a form with the appearance of a human on the throne high above. |
| 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. | 27From what seemed to be His waist up, I saw a gleam like amber, with what looked like fire enclosing it all around. From what seemed to be His waist down, I also saw what looked like fire. There was a brilliant light all around Him. |
| 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. | 28The appearance of the brilliant light all around was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. This was the appearance of the form of the LORD's glory. When I saw it, I fell facedown and heard a voice speaking. |
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