The Message Bible MSG
New International Version NIV
14 The creatures flashed back and forth like strikes of lightning.
14
The creatures sped back and forth like flashes of lightning.
15 As I watched the four creatures, I saw something that looked like a wheel on the ground beside each of the four-faced creatures.
15
As I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground beside each creature with its four faces.
16 This is what the wheels looked like: They were identical wheels, sparkling like diamonds in the sun. It looked like they were wheels within wheels, like a gyroscope.
16
This was the appearance and structure of the wheels: They sparkled like topaz, and all four looked alike. Each appeared to be made like a wheel intersecting a wheel.
17 They went in any one of the four directions they faced, but straight, not veering off.
17
As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the creatures faced; the wheels did not change direction as the creatures went.
18 The rims were immense, circled with eyes.
18
Their rims were high and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyes all around.
19 When the living creatures went, the wheels went; when the living creatures lifted off, the wheels lifted off.
19
When the living creatures moved, the wheels beside them moved; and when the living creatures rose from the ground, the wheels also rose.
20 Wherever the spirit went, they went, the wheels sticking right with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
20
Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
21 When the creatures went, the wheels went; when the creatures stopped, the wheels stopped; when the creatures lifted off, the wheels lifted off, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
21
When the creatures moved, they also moved; when the creatures stood still, they also stood still; and when the creatures rose from the ground, the wheels rose along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
22 Over the heads of the living creatures was something like a dome, shimmering like a sky full of cut glass, vaulted over their heads.
22
Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was what looked something like a vault, sparkling like crystal, and awesome.
23 Under the dome one set of wings was extended toward the others, with another set of wings covering their bodies.
23
Under the vault their wings were stretched out one toward the other, and each had two wings covering its body.
24 When they moved I heard their wings - it was like the roar of a great waterfall, like the voice of The Strong God, like the noise of a battlefield. When they stopped, they folded their wings.
24
When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushing waters, like the voice of the Almighty, like the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.