1
Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on 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
On the fifth day of the month, which was in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin's captivity,
3
the word of the Lord came expressly 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 him there.
4
Then I looked, and behold, a whirlwind was coming out of the north, a great cloud with raging fire engulfing itself; and brightness was all around it and radiating out of its midst like the color of amber, out of the midst of the fire.
5
Also from within it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man.
6
Each one had four faces, and each one had four wings.
7
Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the soles of calves' feet. They sparkled like the color of burnished bronze.
8
The hands of a man were under their wings on their four sides; and each of the four had faces and wings.
9
Their wings touched one another. The creatures did not turn when they went, but each one went straight forward.