The Seals

I watched as the Lamb(A) opened the first of the seven seals.(B) Then I heard one of the four living creatures(C) say in a voice like thunder,(D) “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a white horse!(E) Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown,(F) and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.(G)

When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature(H) say, “Come!” Then another horse came out, a fiery red one.(I) Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth(J) and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.

When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature(K) say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse!(L) Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures,(M) saying, “Two pounds[a] of wheat for a day’s wages,[b] and six pounds[c] of barley for a day’s wages,[d](N) and do not damage(O) the oil and the wine!”

When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature(P) say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a pale horse!(Q) Its rider was named Death, and Hades(R) was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.(S)

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under(T) the altar(U) the souls of those who had been slain(V) because of the word of God(W) and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice, “How long,(X) Sovereign Lord,(Y) holy and true,(Z) until you judge the inhabitants of the earth(AA) and avenge our blood?”(AB) 11 Then each of them was given a white robe,(AC) and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters,[e] were killed just as they had been.(AD)

12 I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake.(AE) The sun turned black(AF) like sackcloth(AG) made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth,(AH) as figs drop from a fig tree(AI) when shaken by a strong wind. 14 The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up,(AJ) and every mountain and island was removed from its place.(AK)

15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free,(AL) hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains.(AM) 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us(AN) and hide us[f] from the face of him who sits on the throne(AO) and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day(AP) of their[g] wrath has come, and who can withstand it?”(AQ)

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 6:6 Or about 1 kilogram
  2. Revelation 6:6 Greek a denarius
  3. Revelation 6:6 Or about 3 kilograms
  4. Revelation 6:6 Greek a denarius
  5. Revelation 6:11 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 12:10; 19:10.
  6. Revelation 6:16 See Hosea 10:8.
  7. Revelation 6:17 Some manuscripts his

30 Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,
    and good news gives health to the bones.(A)

31 Whoever heeds life-giving correction
    will be at home among the wise.(B)

32 Those who disregard discipline despise themselves,(C)
    but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.(D)

33 Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord,(E)
    and humility comes before honor.(F)

16 To humans belong the plans of the heart,
    but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.(G)

All a person’s ways seem pure to them,(H)
    but motives are weighed(I) by the Lord.(J)

Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
    and he will establish your plans.(K)

The Lord works out everything to its proper end(L)
    even the wicked for a day of disaster.(M)

The Lord detests all the proud of heart.(N)
    Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.(O)

Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
    through the fear of the Lord(P) evil is avoided.(Q)

When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way,
    he causes their enemies to make peace(R) with them.(S)

Better a little with righteousness
    than much gain(T) with injustice.(U)

In their hearts humans plan their course,
    but the Lord establishes their steps.(V)

10 The lips of a king speak as an oracle,
    and his mouth does not betray justice.(W)

11 Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord;
    all the weights in the bag are of his making.(X)

12 Kings detest wrongdoing,
    for a throne is established through righteousness.(Y)

13 Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
    they value the one who speaks what is right.(Z)

14 A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,(AA)
    but the wise will appease it.(AB)

15 When a king’s face brightens, it means life;(AC)
    his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.(AD)

16 How much better to get wisdom than gold,
    to get insight(AE) rather than silver!(AF)

17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
    those who guard their ways preserve their lives.(AG)

18 Pride(AH) goes before destruction,
    a haughty spirit(AI) before a fall.(AJ)

19 Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed
    than to share plunder with the proud.

20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,[a](AK)
    and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.(AL)

21 The wise in heart are called discerning,
    and gracious words promote instruction.[b](AM)

22 Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,(AN)
    but folly brings punishment to fools.

23 The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent,(AO)
    and their lips promote instruction.[c](AP)

24 Gracious words are a honeycomb,(AQ)
    sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.(AR)

25 There is a way that appears to be right,(AS)
    but in the end it leads to death.(AT)

26 The appetite of laborers works for them;
    their hunger drives them on.

27 A scoundrel(AU) plots evil,
    and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.(AV)

28 A perverse person stirs up conflict,(AW)
    and a gossip separates close friends.(AX)

29 A violent person entices their neighbor
    and leads them down a path that is not good.(AY)

30 Whoever winks(AZ) with their eye is plotting perversity;
    whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.

31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor;(BA)
    it is attained in the way of righteousness.

32 Better a patient person than a warrior,
    one with self-control than one who takes a city.

33 The lot is cast(BB) into the lap,
    but its every decision(BC) is from the Lord.(BD)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:20 Or whoever speaks prudently finds what is good
  2. Proverbs 16:21 Or words make a person persuasive
  3. Proverbs 16:23 Or prudent / and make their lips persuasive

Bible Gateway Recommends