The Scroll and the Lamb

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. And I saw a mighty angel(D) proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 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.”

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You are a lion’s(A) cub,(B) Judah;(C)
    you return from the prey,(D) my son.
Like a lion he crouches and lies down,
    like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?
10 The scepter will not depart from Judah,(E)
    nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,[a]
until he to whom it belongs[b] shall come(F)
    and the obedience of the nations shall be his.(G)

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 49:10 Or from his descendants
  2. Genesis 49:10 Or to whom tribute belongs; the meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.

God’s Promise to David(A)

After the king was settled in his palace(B) and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies(C) around him,(D) he said to Nathan(E) the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house(F) of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”(G)

Nathan replied to the king, “Whatever you have in mind,(H) go ahead and do it, for the Lord is with you.”

But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying:

“Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you(I) the one to build me a house to dwell in?(J) I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day.(K) I have been moving from place to place with a tent(L) as my dwelling.(M) Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites,(N) did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd(O) my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house(P) of cedar?(Q)”’

“Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock,(R) and appointed you ruler(S) over my people Israel.(T) I have been with you wherever you have gone,(U) and I have cut off all your enemies from before you.(V) Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth.(W) 10 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant(X) them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed.(Y) Wicked(Z) people will not oppress them anymore,(AA) as they did at the beginning 11 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders[a](AB) over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.(AC)

“‘The Lord declares(AD) to you that the Lord himself will establish(AE) a house(AF) for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest(AG) with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood,(AH) and I will establish his kingdom.(AI) 13 He is the one who will build a house(AJ) for my Name,(AK) and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.(AL) 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son.(AM) When he does wrong, I will punish him(AN) with a rod(AO) wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. 15 But my love will never be taken away from him,(AP) as I took it away from Saul,(AQ) whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me[b]; your throne(AR) will be established(AS) forever.(AT)’”

17 Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.

David’s Prayer(AU)

18 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said:

“Who am I,(AV) Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 19 And as if this were not enough in your sight, Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant—and this decree,(AW) Sovereign Lord, is for a mere human![c]

20 “What more can David say(AX) to you? For you know(AY) your servant,(AZ) Sovereign Lord. 21 For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant.

22 “How great(BA) you are,(BB) Sovereign Lord! There is no one like(BC) you, and there is no God(BD) but you, as we have heard with our own ears.(BE) 23 And who is like your people Israel(BF)—the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name(BG) for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders(BH) by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed(BI) from Egypt?[d] 24 You have established your people Israel as your very own(BJ) forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.(BK)

25 “And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise(BL) you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised, 26 so that your name(BM) will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The Lord Almighty is God over Israel!’ And the house of your servant David will be established(BN) in your sight.

27 Lord Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.’ So your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. 28 Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy,(BO) and you have promised these good things to your servant. 29 Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, Sovereign Lord, have spoken, and with your blessing(BP) the house of your servant will be blessed forever.”

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 7:11 Traditionally judges
  2. 2 Samuel 7:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts you
  3. 2 Samuel 7:19 Or for the human race
  4. 2 Samuel 7:23 See Septuagint and 1 Chron. 17:21; Hebrew wonders for your land and before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt, from the nations and their gods.

And they sang a new song, saying:(A)

“You are worthy(B) to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
    and with your blood(C) you purchased(D) for God
    persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.(E)

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Then I saw a Lamb,(A) looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures(B) and the elders.(C) The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes,(D) which are the seven spirits[a](E) of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.(F) And when he had taken it, the four living creatures(G) and the twenty-four elders(H) fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp(I) and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers(J) of God’s people. And they sang a new song, saying:(K)

“You are worthy(L) to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
    and with your blood(M) you purchased(N) for God
    persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.(O)
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests(P) to serve our God,
    and they will reign[b] on the earth.”(Q)

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 5:6 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
  2. Revelation 5:10 Some manuscripts they reign

John Testifies About Jesus

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God,(A) who takes away the sin of the world!(B)

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Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.(A)

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18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed(A) from the empty way of life(B) handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood(C) of Christ, a lamb(D) without blemish or defect.(E) 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world,(F) but was revealed in these last times(G) for your sake.

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Then I saw a Lamb,(A) looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures(B) and the elders.(C) The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes,(D) which are the seven spirits[a](E) of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.(F) And when he had taken it, the four living creatures(G) and the twenty-four elders(H) fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp(I) and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers(J) of God’s people. And they sang a new song, saying:(K)

“You are worthy(L) to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
    and with your blood(M) you purchased(N) for God
    persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.(O)
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests(P) to serve our God,
    and they will reign[b] on the earth.”(Q)

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 5:6 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
  2. Revelation 5:10 Some manuscripts they reign

16 For God so loved(A) the world that he gave(B) his one and only Son,(C) that whoever believes(D) in him shall not perish but have eternal life.(E)

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If you declare(A) with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,”(B) and believe(C) in your heart that God raised him from the dead,(D) you will be saved.(E) 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

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21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm(A) in Christ. He anointed(B) us, 22 set his seal(C) of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.(D)

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13 And you also were included in Christ(A) when you heard the message of truth,(B) the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal,(C) the promised Holy Spirit,(D)

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19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm,(A) sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,”(B) and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord(C) must turn away from wickedness.”

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19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,(A) baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,(B) 20 and teaching(C) them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you(D) always, to the very end of the age.”(E)

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20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors,(A) as though God were making his appeal through us.(B) We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.(C) 21 God made him who had no sin(D) to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.(E)

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 5:21 Or be a sin offering

The Living Stone and a Chosen People

As you come to him, the living Stone(A)—rejected by humans but chosen by God(B) and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built(C) into a spiritual house[a](D) to be a holy priesthood,(E) offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.(F) For in Scripture it says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
    a chosen and precious cornerstone,(G)
and the one who trusts in him
    will never be put to shame.”[b](H)

Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,(I)

“The stone the builders rejected(J)
    has become the cornerstone,”[c](K)

and,

“A stone that causes people to stumble
    and a rock that makes them fall.”[d](L)

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.(M)

But you are a chosen people,(N) a royal priesthood,(O) a holy nation,(P) God’s special possession,(Q) that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.(R) 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God;(S) once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Living Godly Lives in a Pagan Society

11 Dear friends,(T) I urge you, as foreigners and exiles,(U) to abstain from sinful desires,(V) which wage war against your soul.(W) 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds(X) and glorify God(Y) on the day he visits us.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 2:5 Or into a temple of the Spirit
  2. 1 Peter 2:6 Isaiah 28:16
  3. 1 Peter 2:7 Psalm 118:22
  4. 1 Peter 2:8 Isaiah 8:14

11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand.(A) They encircled the throne and the living creatures(B) and the elders.(C) 12 In a loud voice they were saying:

“Worthy is the Lamb,(D) who was slain,(E)
    to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
    and honor and glory and praise!”(F)

13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth(G) and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

“To him who sits on the throne(H) and to the Lamb(I)
    be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”(J)

14 The four living creatures(K) said, “Amen,”(L) and the elders(M) fell down and worshiped.(N)

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26 Then God said, “Let us(A) make mankind(B) in our image,(C) in our likeness,(D) so that they may rule(E) over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky,(F) over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

27 So God created(G) mankind(H) in his own image,(I)
    in the image of God(J) he created them;
    male and female(K) he created them.(L)

28 God blessed them and said to them,(M) “Be fruitful and increase in number;(N) fill the earth(O) and subdue it. Rule over(P) the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.(Q)

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 1:26 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text (see Syriac); Masoretic Text the earth

Then the Lord God formed(A) a man[a](B) from the dust(C) of the ground(D) and breathed into his nostrils the breath(E) of life,(F) and the man became a living being.(G)

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 2:7 The Hebrew for man (adam) sounds like and may be related to the Hebrew for ground (adamah); it is also the name Adam (see verse 20).

Psalm 19[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

The heavens(A) declare(B) the glory of God;(C)
    the skies(D) proclaim the work of his hands.(E)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 19:1 In Hebrew texts 19:1-14 is numbered 19:2-15.

10 for every animal of the forest(A) is mine,
    and the cattle on a thousand hills.(B)
11 I know every bird(C) in the mountains,
    and the insects in the fields(D) are mine.

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24 How many are your works,(A) Lord!
    In wisdom you made(B) them all;
    the earth is full of your creatures.(C)
25 There is the sea,(D) vast and spacious,
    teeming with creatures beyond number—
    living things both large and small.(E)

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20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it,(A) in hope 21 that[a] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay(B) and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 8:21 Or subjected it in hope. 21 For

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