羔羊与封印的书卷

接着,我看见坐在宝座上的那位右手拿着一卷内外写着字、用七个印封住的书。 有一位大力天使高声问道:“谁有资格揭开那七个封印,打开那卷书?” 可是,天上、地上、甚至地底下都没有人有资格揭开并阅读那卷书。 我见无人有资格揭开并阅读那卷书,便放声大哭。 有一位长老对我说:“不要哭。你看,犹大支派的狮子、大卫的根已经得胜了!祂能揭开那七个封印,打开那卷书。”

我又看到宝座、四个活物和众长老之间站着一只好像是被宰杀过的羔羊。祂身上的七只角和七只眼睛代表奉差遣到普天下去的上帝的七灵。 那羔羊走上前去,从坐在宝座上的那位右手中接过书卷。 祂拿过书卷后,四个活物和二十四位长老就俯伏在羔羊面前,各拿着竖琴和盛满了香的金香炉。那些香就是众圣徒的祈祷。 他们唱着一首新歌:

“你配拿书卷并揭开封印,
因你曾被杀,
用你的血从各部落、各语言族群、各民族、各国家,
将人买赎回来归给上帝。
10 你又使他们成为上帝的国度和祭司,
他们要在地上执掌王权。”

11 我看见宝座、四个活物和众长老的周围有千千万万的天使,又听见他们高声呼喊: 12 “那被杀的羔羊配得权柄、财富、智慧、能力、尊贵、荣耀和颂赞!”

13 我又听到天上、地上、地底下和海洋中一切被造之物同声说:“愿颂赞、尊贵、荣耀和权柄都归于坐在宝座上的那位和羔羊,直到永永远远!” 14 四个活物就说:“阿们!”众长老也俯伏敬拜。

The Scroll With Seven Seals

And I saw a scroll in the right hand of him who sat on the throne, with writing on the front[a] and on the back, sealed with seven seals.

And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll by breaking its seals?” No one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. And I began to weep bitterly because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. Then one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping. Look! The Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed and is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Worthy Is the Lamb

And I saw a Lamb standing in the center, near the throne, surrounded by the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders. The Lamb seemed to have been slain, and he had seven horns and seven eyes (these are the seven spirits of God that have been sent into all the world). The Lamb came and took the scroll out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when the Lamb took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders bowed down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and gold bowls full of incense (these are the prayers of the saints). And they sang a new song, saying:

You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals,
    because you were slain,
    and you bought us[b] for God with your blood
        out of every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 You made them[c] to be a kingdom and priests for our God,
and they will reign on the earth.

11 And I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels who were around the throne and around the living creatures and the elders. Their number was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands upon thousands. 12 With a loud voice they were saying:

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive
power and riches and
wisdom and strength and
honor and glory and blessing.

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

To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever.

14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders bowed down and worshipped.

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 5:1 Some witnesses to the text read inside.
  2. Revelation 5:9 Most of the witnesses to the text read us in verse 9 and them in verse 10.
  3. Revelation 5:10 A few witnesses to the text read us.