The Four Living Creatures

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 and within it [was] the form of four living creatures.

And this [was] their appearance: They had a human form, 6 but each had four faces and four wings 7 Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the hooves of a calf, gleaming like polished bronze.

8 

Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. All four [living creatures] had faces and wings, 9 and their wings were touching one another. They did not turn as they moved; each one went straight ahead.

10 

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 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 Each [creature] went straight ahead Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they moved.

13 

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 The creatures were darting back and forth as quickly as flashes of lightning.

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