First ReadingEzekiel 1:2-5, 24-28*
From the Book of Ezekiel
2In the fifth of the month,which was the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity,3the Lord’s word came to Ezekiel the priest,the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar;and the Lord’s hand was there on him.
4I looked, and behold, a stormy wind came out of the north:a great cloud, with flashing lightning,and a brightness around it,and out of the middle of it as it were glowing metal,out of the middle of the fire.5Out of its center came the likeness of four living creatures.This was their appearance:They had the likeness of a man. verses 6–23 are not read24When they went, I heard the noise of their wings like the noise of great waters,like the voice of the Almighty,a noise of tumult like the noise of an army.When they stood, they let down their wings.
25There was a voice above the expansethat was over their heads.When they stood, they let down their wings.26Above the expansethat was over their heads was the likeness of a throne,as the appearance of a sapphire stone.On the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man on it above.27I saw as it were glowing metal,as the appearance of fire within it all around,from the appearance of his waist and upward;and from the appearance of his waistand downward I saw as it were the appearance of fire,and there was brightness around him.28As the appearance of the rainbowthat is in the cloud in the day of rain,so was the appearance of the brightness all around.
This was the appearance of the likeness of the Lord’s glory.When I saw it, I fell on my face,and I heard a voice of one that spoke.