A reading from the book of Ezekiel.

In the 30th year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the Kieber Canal, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.

On the fifth day of the month, it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jeholyakin.

The word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the priest,

the son of Buzai, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Kieber Canal, and the hand of the Lord

was upon him there. As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud

with brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming metal,

and from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance.

They had a human likeness, but each had four faces, and each of them had four wings. Their

legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf's foot, and they

sparkled like burnished bronze. Under their wings on their four sides, they had human hands, and the souls of their feet were like the soul of a calf's foot, and they sparkled like burnish bronze. Under their wings on their four sides, they had human hands, and the four had their

faces, and their wings thus. Their wings touched one another. Each one of them went straight forward,

without turning as they went. As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face. The four

had a face of a lion on the right side. The four had a face of a lion on the right side.

The four had the face of an ox on the left side.

And the four had the face of an eagle.

Such were their faces, and their wings were spread out above.

Each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two covered

their bodies, and each went straight forward.

Wherever the spirit would go,

they went, without turning as they went. As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance

was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches moving to and fro among the living

...