² And if they ask you, ‘Where shall we go?’ tell them, ‘This is what the Lord says:

¹¹ He will come and attack Egypt,^(A) bringing death^(B) to those destined^(C) for death, captivity to those destined for captivity,^(D) and the sword to those destined for the sword.^(E)

⁹ and said, “I will not be your shepherd. Let the dying die, and the perishing perish.^(A) Let those who are left eat^(B) one another’s flesh.”

This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness^(B) on the part of God’s people.^(C)

³ When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature^(A) say, “Come!” ⁴ Then another horse came out, a fiery red one.^(B) Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth^(C) and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.

⁵ When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature^(D) say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse!^(E) Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. ⁶ Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures,^(F) saying, “Two pounds^[a] of wheat for a day’s wages,^[b] and six pounds^[c] of barley for a day’s wages,^[d](G) and do not damage^(H) the oil and the wine!”

⁷ When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature^(I) say, “Come!” ⁸ I looked, and there before me was a pale horse!^(J) Its rider was named Death, and Hades^(K) 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.^(L)

² When the days of your siege come to an end, burn^(A) a third^(B) of the hair inside the city. Take a third and strike it with the sword all around the city. And scatter a third to the wind.^(C) For I will pursue them with drawn sword.^(D)

¹² A third of your people will die of the plague or perish by famine inside you; a third will fall by the sword outside your walls; and a third I will scatter to the winds^(A) and pursue with drawn sword.^(B)

¹² Although they fast, I will not listen to their cry;^(A) though they offer burnt offerings^(B) and grain offerings,^(C) I will not accept^(D) them. Instead, I will destroy them with the sword,^(E) famine^(F) and plague.”^(G)