Ezekiel’s Vision by the River Kebar (Psalm 137:1–9)
1 CPDV And it happened that, in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth of the month, when I was in the midst of the captives beside the river Chebar, the heavens were opened, and I saw the visions of God. BSB BSB: In the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was among the exiles by the River Kebar, the heavens opened and I saw visions of God.
2 CPDV On the fifth of the month, the same is the fifth year of the transmigration of king Joachin, BSB BSB: On the fifth day of the month—it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin—
3 CPDV the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel, a priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans, next to the river Chebar. And the hand of the Lord was over him there. BSB BSB: the word of the LORD came directly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Kebar. And there the LORD’s hand was upon him.
The Four Living Creatures 4 CPDV And I saw, and behold, a whirlwind arrived from the north. And a great cloud, wrapped in fire and brightness, was all around it. And from its midst, that is, from the midst of the fire, there was something with the appearance of amber. BSB BSB: I looked and saw 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 was a gleam like amber,
5 CPDV And in its midst, there was the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: the likeness of a man was in them. BSB BSB: and within it was the form of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: They had a human form,
6 CPDV Each one had four faces, and each one had four wings. BSB BSB: but each had four faces and four wings.
7 CPDV Their feet were straight feet, and the sole of their foot was like the sole of the foot of a calf, and they sparkled with the appearance of glowing brass. BSB BSB: Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the hooves of a calf, gleaming like polished bronze.
8 CPDV And they had the hands of a man under their wings on the four sides. And they had faces with the wings on the four sides. BSB BSB: Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. All four living creatures had faces and wings,
9 CPDV And their wings were joined to one another. They did not turn as they went. Instead, each one advanced before his face. BSB BSB: and their wings were touching one another. They did not turn as they moved; each one went straight ahead.
10 CPDV But as for the likeness of their face, there was the face of a man, and the face of a lion on the right of each of the four, then the face of an ox on the left of each of the four, and the face of an eagle above each of the four. BSB BSB: The form of their faces was that of a man, and each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, the face of an ox on the left side, and also the face of an eagle.
11 CPDV Their faces and their wings were extended above: two wings of each one were joined together, and two covered their bodies. BSB BSB: Such were their faces. Their wings were spread upward; each had two wings touching the wings of the creature on either side, and two wings covering its body.
12 CPDV And each one of them advanced before his face. Wherever the impetus of the spirit was to go, there they went. And they did not turn as they advanced. BSB BSB: Each creature went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they moved.
13 CPDV And as for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like that of burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps. This was the vision dashing in the midst of the living creatures, a bright fire, with lightning going forth from the fire. BSB BSB: In the midst of the living creatures was the appearance of glowing coals of fire, or of torches. Fire moved back and forth between the living creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it.
14 CPDV And the living creatures went and returned like flashes of lightning. BSB BSB: The creatures were darting back and forth as quickly as flashes of lightning.
The Four Wheels 15 CPDV And as I beheld the living creatures, there appeared above the earth, next to the living creatures, one wheel having four faces. BSB BSB: When I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground beside each creature with its four faces.
16 CPDV And the appearance of the wheels and their work was like the appearance of the sea. And each of the four were similar to one another. And their appearance and work was like a wheel in the center of a wheel. BSB BSB: The workmanship of the wheels looked like the gleam of beryl, and all four had the same likeness. Their workmanship looked like a wheel within a wheel.
17 CPDV Going forth, they went by means of their four parts. And they did not turn as they went. BSB BSB: As they moved, they went in any of the four directions, without pivoting as they moved.
18 CPDV Also, the size and height and appearance of the wheels was dreadful. And the entire body was full of eyes all around each of the four. BSB BSB: Their rims were high and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyes all around.
19 CPDV And when the living creatures advanced, the wheels advanced together with them. And when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels, too, were lifted up at the same time. BSB BSB: So as the living creatures moved, the wheels moved beside them, and when the creatures rose from the ground, the wheels also rose.
20 CPDV Wherever the spirit went, as the spirit was going forth to that place, the wheels, too, were lifted up together, so as to follow them. For the spirit of life was in the wheels. BSB BSB: Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise alongside them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
21 CPDV When going forth, they went forth, and when standing still, they stood still. And when they were lifted up from the earth, the wheels, too, were lifted up together, so as to follow them. For the spirit of life was in the wheels. BSB BSB: When the creatures moved, the wheels moved; when the creatures stood still, the wheels stood still; and when the creatures rose from the ground, the wheels rose alongside them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
The Divine Glory 22 CPDV And above the heads of the living creatures was the likeness of a firmament: similar to crystal, but dreadful to behold, and extending over their heads from above. BSB BSB: Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was the likeness of an awesome expanse, gleaming like crystal.
23 CPDV And their wings were straight under the firmament, one toward the other. One of them was covered by two wings on his body, and the other was covered similarly. BSB BSB: And under the expanse, their wings stretched out toward one another. Each one also had two wings covering its body.
24 CPDV And I heard the sound of their wings, like the sound of many waters, like the sound of the sublime God. When they walked, it was like the sound of a multitude, like the sound of an army. And when they stood still, their wings were let down. BSB BSB: When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings like the roar of many waters, like the voice of the Almighty, like the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings.
25 CPDV For when a voice came from above the firmament, which was over their heads, they stood still, and they put down their wings. BSB BSB: And there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads as they stood still with their wings lowered.
26 CPDV And above the firmament, which was suspended over their heads, there was the likeness of a throne, with the appearance of the sapphire stone. And over the likeness of the throne, there was a likeness with the appearance of a man above it. BSB BSB: Above the expanse over their heads was the likeness of a throne with the appearance of sapphire, and on the throne high above was a figure like that of a man.
27 CPDV And I saw something with the appearance of amber, with the likeness of fire within it and all around it. And from his waist and upward, and from his waist downward, I saw something with the appearance of fire shining all around. BSB BSB: From what seemed to be His waist up, I saw a gleam like amber, with what looked like fire within it all around. And from what seemed to be His waist down, I saw what looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded Him.
28 CPDV There was the appearance of the rainbow, as when it is in a cloud on a rainy day. This was the appearance of the splendor on every side. BSB BSB: The appearance of the brilliant light all around Him was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell facedown and heard a voice speaking.
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