First Seal: The Conqueror

Now (A)I saw when the Lamb opened one of the [a]seals; and I heard (B)one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” And I looked, and behold, (C)a white horse. (D)He who sat on it had a bow; (E)and a crown was given to him, and he went out (F)conquering and to conquer.

Second Seal: Conflict on Earth

When He opened the second seal, (G)I heard the second living creature saying, “Come [b]and see.” (H)Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to (I)take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.

Third Seal: Scarcity on Earth

When He opened the third seal, (J)I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, (K)a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of (L)scales[c] in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A [d]quart of wheat for a [e]denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and (M)do not harm the oil and the wine.”

Fourth Seal: Widespread Death on Earth

When He opened the fourth seal, (N)I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come and see.” (O)So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And [f]power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, (P)to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, (Q)and by the beasts of the earth.

Fifth Seal: The Cry of the Martyrs

When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under (R)the altar (S)the souls of those who had been slain (T)for the word of God and for (U)the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, (V)“How long, O Lord, (W)holy and true, (X)until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then a (Y)white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them (Z)that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.

Sixth Seal: Cosmic Disturbances

12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, (AA)and [g]behold, there was a great earthquake; and (AB)the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the [h]moon became like blood. 13 (AC)And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 14 (AD)Then the sky [i]receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and (AE)every mountain and island was moved out of its place. 15 And the (AF)kings of the earth, the great men, [j]the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, (AG)hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, 16 (AH)and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who (AI)sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of His wrath has come, (AJ)and who is able to stand?”

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 6:1 NU, M seven seals
  2. Revelation 6:3 NU, M omit and see
  3. Revelation 6:5 balances
  4. Revelation 6:6 Gr. choinix, about 1 quart
  5. Revelation 6:6 About 1 day’s wage for a worker
  6. Revelation 6:8 authority
  7. Revelation 6:12 NU, M omit behold
  8. Revelation 6:12 NU, M whole moon
  9. Revelation 6:14 Or split apart
  10. Revelation 6:15 NU, M the commanders, the rich men,

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 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
And a good report makes the bones [a]healthy.

31 The ear that hears the rebukes of life
Will abide among the wise.
32 He who disdains instruction despises his own soul,
But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.
33 (A)The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom,
And (B)before honor is humility.

Wisdom Is Better Than Gold

16 The (C)preparations[b] of the heart belong to man,
(D)But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

All the ways of a man are pure in his own (E)eyes,
But the Lord weighs the spirits.

(F)Commit[c] your works to the Lord,
And your thoughts will be established.

The (G)Lord has made all for Himself,
(H)Yes, even the wicked for the day of [d]doom.

(I)Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
Though they join [e]forces, none will go unpunished.

(J)In mercy and truth
Atonement is provided for iniquity;
And (K)by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil.

When a man’s ways please the Lord,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

(L)Better is a little with righteousness,
Than vast revenues without justice.

(M)A man’s heart plans his way,
(N)But the Lord directs his steps.

10 Divination is on the lips of the king;
His mouth must not transgress in judgment.
11 (O)Honest weights and scales are the Lord’s;
All the weights in the bag are His [f]work.
12 It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness,
For (P)a throne is established by righteousness.
13 (Q)Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And they love him who speaks what is right.
14 As messengers of death is the king’s wrath,
But a wise man will (R)appease it.
15 In the light of the king’s face is life,
And his favor is like a (S)cloud of the latter rain.

16 (T)How much better to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil;
He who keeps his way preserves his soul.

18 Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before [g]a fall.
19 Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly,
Than to divide the [h]spoil with the proud.

20 He who heeds the word wisely will find good,
And whoever (U)trusts in the Lord, happy is he.

21 The wise in heart will be called prudent,
And sweetness of the lips increases learning.

22 Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it.
But the correction of fools is folly.

23 The heart of the wise teaches his mouth,
And adds learning to his lips.

24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.

25 There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of (V)death.

26 The person who labors, labors for himself,
For his hungry mouth drives (W)him on.

27 [i]An ungodly man digs up evil,
And it is on his lips like a burning (X)fire.
28 A perverse man sows strife,
And (Y)a whisperer separates the best of friends.
29 A violent man entices his neighbor,
And leads him in a way that is not good.
30 He winks his eye to devise perverse things;
He [j]purses his lips and brings about evil.

31 (Z)The silver-haired head is a crown of glory,
If it is found in the way of righteousness.

32 (AA)He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap,
But its every decision is from the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:30 Lit. fat
  2. Proverbs 16:1 plans
  3. Proverbs 16:3 Lit. Roll
  4. Proverbs 16:4 Lit. evil
  5. Proverbs 16:5 Lit. hand to hand
  6. Proverbs 16:11 concern
  7. Proverbs 16:18 stumbling
  8. Proverbs 16:19 plunder
  9. Proverbs 16:27 Lit. A man of Belial
  10. Proverbs 16:30 Lit. compresses

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