5 Then I looked at the one who was sitting on the throne. I saw that he held a book in his right hand. [ a ] Words were written on both sides, the inside and the outside. Seven seals kept the book closed. 2 Then I saw a powerful angel. He said with a loud voice, ‘Who is so good that they can break the seals? Who can open the book?’ 3 But nobody in heaven could open the book and look inside it. Neither could anyone on the earth or anyone under the earth open it. [ b ]
4 I wept much because there was nobody who was good enough. Nobody was so good that they could open the book. Nobody could look inside it. 5 Then one of the leaders said to me, ‘Do not weep! Look! There is someone who can break the seven seals and then open the book. His name is the Lion from Judah's tribe. He is called the Root of King David. He has won over all his enemies.’ [ c ]
6 Then I saw a Lamb. He was standing in the middle of the throne. The four beings that are alive and the leaders were around him. The Lamb appeared to be like a lamb that someone had killed. He had seven horns and seven eyes. His eyes are the seven spirits of God, that God has sent into all parts of the world. 7 The Lamb came and he took the book. He took it from the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. 8 When he had taken the book, the four beings and the 24 leaders fell down to the ground in front of the Lamb. They worshipped him. Each leader had a harp to make music. They were also holding gold bowls which were full of incense. That nice smell shows what it is like when God's people pray to him. 9 The beings that are alive and the leaders sang a new song. They sang:
‘You are so good!
You are good enough to take the book.
You can break its seals and open it.
You can do this because they killed you.
When you died, you bought people for God with your blood.
You bought them from every tribe,
from every language and every nation.
10 You have caused them to belong to the kingdom of our God.
You have made them priests,
so that they serve God.
And they will rule on the earth.’
11 Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of many angels. There were thousands and millions of them. They were standing around the throne, with the beings that are alive and the leaders. 12 They all sang with loud voices:
‘The Lamb that people killed is completely good!
He has all authority, and all things belong to him.
He is wise and powerful.
Everyone must agree that he is great!
Everyone must praise him and worship him!’
13 Then I heard everything that is alive singing. That was everything in heaven and everything on the earth, and everything under the earth and everything in the sea. They were singing:
‘We praise the one who sits on the throne.
We praise the one who is the Lamb.
We say that they are great! We worship them!
They have power to rule for ever!’
14 The four beings that are alive agreed. They said, ‘Yes, this is true.’ The leaders fell down and they worshipped God and the Lamb. [ d ]
5 Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one sitting on the throne. The scroll had writing on both sides and was kept closed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a powerful angel, who called in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But there was no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth who could open the scroll or look inside it. 4 I cried and cried because there was no one who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 But one of the elders said to me, “Don’t cry! The Lion [ a ] from the tribe of Judah has won the victory. He is David’s descendant. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 Then I saw a Lamb standing in the center near the throne with the four living beings around it. The elders were also around the Lamb. The Lamb looked as if it had been killed. It had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God that were sent into all the world. 7 The Lamb came and took the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne. 8 After the Lamb took the scroll, the four living beings and the 24 elders bowed down before the Lamb. Each one of them had a harp. Also, they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s holy people. 9 And they all sang a new song to the Lamb:
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were killed,
and with your blood sacrifice you bought people for God
from every tribe, language, race of people, and nation.
10 You made them to be a kingdom and to be priests for our God.
And they will rule on the earth.”
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels. The angels were around the throne, the four living beings, and the elders. There were thousands and thousands of angels—10,000 times 10,000. 12 The angels said in a loud voice,
“All power, wealth, wisdom, and strength
belong to the Lamb who was killed.
He is worthy to receive
honor, glory, and praise!”
13 Then I heard every created being that is in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, everything in all these places, saying,
“All praise and honor
and glory and power forever and ever
to the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb!”
14 The four living beings said, “Amen!” And the elders bowed down and worshiped.
5 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
5 I saw [ a ] in the right hand of Him who ( A ) sat on the throne a [ b ] ( B ) scroll written inside and on the back, ( C ) sealed up with seven seals. 2 And I saw a ( D ) strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?” 3 And no one ( E ) in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. 4 Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 And one of the elders *said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the ( F ) Lion that is ( G ) from the tribe of Judah, the ( H ) Root of David, has overcome so as to be able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 And I saw [ c ] between the throne (with the four living creatures) and ( I ) the elders a ( J ) Lamb standing, as if ( K ) slaughtered, having seven ( L ) horns and ( M ) seven eyes, which are [ d ] ( N ) the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And He came and took ( O ) the scroll out of the right hand of Him who ( P ) sat on the throne. 8 When He had taken the scroll, the ( Q ) four living creatures and the ( R ) twenty-four elders ( S ) fell down before the ( T ) Lamb, each one holding a ( U ) harp and ( V ) golden bowls full of incense, which are the ( W ) prayers of the [ e ] saints. 9 And they *sang a ( X ) new song, saying,
“ ( Y ) Worthy are You to take the scroll and to break its seals; for You were ( Z ) slaughtered, and You ( AA ) purchased people for God with Your blood from ( AB ) every tribe, language, people, and nation.
10 You have made them into a ( AC ) kingdom and ( AD ) priests to our God, and they will ( AE ) reign upon the earth.”
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels ( AF ) around the throne and the ( AG ) living creatures and the ( AH ) elders; and the number of them was [ f ] ( AI ) myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice,
“ ( AJ ) Worthy is the ( AK ) Lamb that was ( AL ) slaughtered to receive power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing.”
13 And I heard ( AM ) every created thing which is in heaven, or on the earth, or under the earth, or on the sea, and all the things in them, saying,
“To Him who ( AN ) sits on the throne and to the ( AO ) Lamb ( AP ) be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion forever and ever.”
14 And the ( AQ ) four living creatures were saying, “ ( AR ) Amen.” And the ( AS ) elders ( AT ) fell down and worshiped.
5 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne ( A ) a scroll with writing on both sides ( B ) and sealed ( C ) with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel ( D ) proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion ( E ) of the tribe of Judah, ( F ) the Root of David, ( G ) has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 Then I saw a Lamb, ( H ) looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures ( I ) and the elders. ( J ) The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, ( K ) which are the seven spirits [ a ] ( L ) of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. ( M ) 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures ( N ) and the twenty-four elders ( O ) fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp ( P ) and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers ( Q ) of God’s people. 9 And they sang a new song, saying: ( R )
“You are worthy ( S ) to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood ( T ) you purchased ( U ) for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. ( V )
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests ( W ) to serve our God,
and they will reign [ b ] on the earth.” ( X )
11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. ( Y ) They encircled the throne and the living creatures ( Z ) and the elders. ( AA ) 12 In a loud voice they were saying:
“Worthy is the Lamb, ( AB ) who was slain, ( AC )
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!” ( AD )
13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth ( AE ) and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
“To him who sits on the throne ( AF ) and to the Lamb ( AG )
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!” ( AH )
14 The four living creatures ( AI ) said, “Amen,” ( AJ ) and the elders ( AK ) fell down and worshiped. ( AL )
