The Corruption of Mankind

Now it came about, when mankind began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw that the daughters of mankind were [a]beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose. Then the Lord said, “(A)My Spirit will not [b]remain with man forever, [c](B)because he is also flesh; [d]nevertheless his days shall be 120 years.” The [e](C)Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of mankind, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.

Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of mankind was great on the earth, and that (D)every intent of the thoughts of [f]their hearts was only evil continually. So (E)the Lord was sorry that He had made mankind on the earth, and He was (F)grieved [g]in His heart. Then the Lord said, “(G)I will wipe out mankind whom I have created from the face of the land; mankind, and animals as well, and crawling things, and the birds of the sky. For (H)I am sorry that I have made them.” But (I)Noah (J)found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 6:2 Lit good
  2. Genesis 6:3 Or rule in; or strive with; meaning uncertain
  3. Genesis 6:3 Or in his going astray he is flesh
  4. Genesis 6:3 Or therefore
  5. Genesis 6:4 Lit fallen ones; LXX giants
  6. Genesis 6:5 Lit his heart
  7. Genesis 6:6 Lit to

Wickedness in the World

When human beings began to increase in number on the earth(A) and daughters were born to them, the sons of God(B) saw that the daughters(C) of humans were beautiful,(D) and they married(E) any of them they chose. Then the Lord said, “My Spirit(F) will not contend with[a] humans forever,(G) for they are mortal[b];(H) their days will be a hundred and twenty years.”

The Nephilim(I) were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans(J) and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.(K)

The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth,(L) and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.(M) The Lord regretted(N) that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth(O) the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.(P) But Noah(Q) found favor in the eyes of the Lord.(R)

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 6:3 Or My spirit will not remain in
  2. Genesis 6:3 Or corrupt

22 (A)Many will say to Me on (B)that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many [a]miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; (C)leave Me, you who practice lawlessness.’

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 7:22 Or works of power

22 Many will say to me on that day,(A) ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’(B) 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’(C)

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26 For this reason (A)God gave them over to (B)degrading passions; for their women exchanged natural relations for that which is contrary to nature, 27 and likewise the men, too, abandoned natural relations [a]with women and burned in their desire toward one another, (C)males with males committing [b]shameful acts and receiving in [c]their own persons the due penalty of their error.

28 And just as they did not see fit [d]to acknowledge God, (D)God gave them up to a depraved mind, to do those things that are not proper,

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 1:27 Lit of the female
  2. Romans 1:27 Lit shamelessness
  3. Romans 1:27 Lit themselves
  4. Romans 1:28 Lit to have God in knowledge

26 Because of this, God gave them over(A) to shameful lusts.(B) Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones.(C) 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.(D)

28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over(E) to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.

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but to those who are (A)self-serving and (B)do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, He will give wrath and indignation.

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But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil,(A) there will be wrath and anger.(B)

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The River and the Tree of Life

22 And (A)he showed me a (B)river of the (C)water of life, [a]clear (D)as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of [b]the Lamb, in the middle of (E)its street. (F)On either side of the river was (G)the tree of life, bearing twelve [c]kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (H)There will no longer be any curse; and (I)the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will (J)serve Him; they will (K)see His face, and His (L)name will be on their (M)foreheads. And (N)there will no longer be any night; and they [d]will not have need (O)of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illuminate them; and they will (P)reign forever and ever.

And (Q)he said to me, “(R)These words are faithful and true”; and the Lord, the (S)God of the spirits of the prophets, (T)sent His angel to show His bond-servants the things which must soon take place.

“And behold, (U)I am coming quickly. (V)Blessed is the one who [e]keeps (W)the words of the prophecy of this book.”

(X)I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, (Y)I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things. And (Z)he *said to me, “[f]Do not do that; I am a (AA)fellow servant of yours and of your brothers the prophets, and of those who [g]keep the words of (AB)this book. Worship God!”

The Final Message

10 And he *said to me, “(AC)Do not seal up (AD)the words of the prophecy of this book, (AE)for the time is near. 11 (AF)Let the one who does wrong still do wrong, and the one who is filthy still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous still practice righteousness, and the one who is holy still keep himself holy.”

12 “Behold, (AG)I am coming quickly, and My (AH)reward is with Me, (AI)to reward each one as his work [h]deserves. 13 I am the (AJ)Alpha and the Omega, (AK)the first and the last, (AL)the beginning and the end.”

14 Blessed are those who (AM)wash their robes, so that they will have the right to (AN)the tree of life, and may (AO)enter the city by the (AP)gates. 15 (AQ)Outside are the (AR)dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral persons, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.

16 (AS)I, Jesus, have sent (AT)My angel to testify to you of these things [i](AU)for the churches. I am (AV)the root and the (AW)descendant of David, the bright (AX)morning star.”

17 The (AY)Spirit and the (AZ)bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And (BA)let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires, take the (BB)water of life without cost.

18 I testify to everyone who hears (BC)the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone (BD)adds to them, God will add to him (BE)the plagues that are written in (BF)this book; 19 and if anyone (BG)takes away from the (BH)words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from (BI)the tree of life and [j]from the holy city, (BJ)which are written in this book.

20 He who (BK)testifies to these things says, “Yes, (BL)I am coming quickly.” Amen. (BM)Come, Lord Jesus.

21 (BN)The grace of the Lord Jesus be with [k]all. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 22:1 Lit bright
  2. Revelation 22:1 Or the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was
  3. Revelation 22:2 Or crops of fruit
  4. Revelation 22:5 Lit do not have
  5. Revelation 22:7 Or follows
  6. Revelation 22:9 Lit See that you do not
  7. Revelation 22:9 Or follows
  8. Revelation 22:12 Lit is
  9. Revelation 22:16 Or concerning
  10. Revelation 22:19 Lit out of
  11. Revelation 22:21 One early ms the saints

Eden Restored

22 Then the angel showed me the river(A) of the water of life,(B) as clear as crystal,(C) flowing(D) from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life,(E) bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.(F) No longer will there be any curse.(G) The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.(H) They will see his face,(I) and his name will be on their foreheads.(J) There will be no more night.(K) They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light.(L) And they will reign for ever and ever.(M)

John and the Angel

The angel said to me,(N) “These words are trustworthy and true.(O) The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets,(P) sent his angel(Q) to show his servants the things that must soon take place.”

“Look, I am coming soon!(R) Blessed(S) is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”(T)

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things.(U) And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet(V) of the angel who had been showing them to me. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll.(W) Worship God!”(X)

10 Then he told me, “Do not seal up(Y) the words of the prophecy of this scroll,(Z) because the time is near.(AA) 11 Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.”(AB)

Epilogue: Invitation and Warning

12 “Look, I am coming soon!(AC) My reward is with me,(AD) and I will give to each person according to what they have done.(AE) 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega,(AF) the First and the Last,(AG) the Beginning and the End.(AH)

14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes,(AI) that they may have the right to the tree of life(AJ) and may go through the gates(AK) into the city.(AL) 15 Outside(AM) are the dogs,(AN) those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

16 “I, Jesus,(AO) have sent my angel(AP) to give you[a] this testimony for the churches.(AQ) I am the Root(AR) and the Offspring of David,(AS) and the bright Morning Star.”(AT)

17 The Spirit(AU) and the bride(AV) say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.(AW)

18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll:(AX) If anyone adds anything to them,(AY) God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll.(AZ) 19 And if anyone takes words away(BA) from this scroll of prophecy,(BB) God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life(BC) and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.

20 He who testifies to these things(BD) says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”(BE)

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.(BF)

21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people.(BG) Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 22:16 The Greek is plural.