A Great Multitude from Every Nation

After this I looked, and behold, (A)a great multitude that no one could number, (B)from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, (C)clothed in white robes, with (D)palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, (E)“Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and (F)the four living creatures, and they (G)fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 (H)saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, (I)clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of (J)the great tribulation. (K)They have washed their robes and (L)made them white (M)in the blood of the Lamb.

15 “Therefore they are before the throne of God,
    and (N)serve him day and night in his temple;
    and he who sits on the throne (O)will shelter them with his presence.
16 (P)They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
    (Q)the sun shall not strike them,
    nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne (R)will be their shepherd,
    and he will guide them to springs of (S)living water,
and (T)God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

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The Great Multitude in White Robes

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language,(A) standing before the throne(B) and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes(C) and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation belongs to our God,(D)
who sits on the throne,(E)
and to the Lamb.”

11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders(F) and the four living creatures.(G) They fell down on their faces(H) before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying:

“Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!”(I)

13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes(J)—who are they, and where did they come from?”

14 I answered, “Sir, you know.”

And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes(K) and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.(L) 15 Therefore,

“they are before the throne of God(M)
    and serve him(N) day and night in his temple;(O)
and he who sits on the throne(P)
    will shelter them with his presence.(Q)
16 ‘Never again will they hunger;
    never again will they thirst.(R)
The sun will not beat down on them,’[a]
    nor any scorching heat.(S)
17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne
    will be their shepherd;(T)
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’[b](U)
    ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’[c](V)

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 7:16 Isaiah 49:10
  2. Revelation 7:17 Isaiah 49:10
  3. Revelation 7:17 Isaiah 25:8

Thanksgiving and Prayer

15 For this reason, (A)because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love[a] toward all the saints, 16 I (B)do not cease to give thanks for you, (C)remembering you in my prayers, 17 that (D)the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, (E)may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 (F)having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is (G)the hope to which he has called you, what are (H)the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, (I)according to the working of (J)his great might 20 that he worked in Christ (K)when he raised him from the dead and (L)seated him at his right hand (M)in the heavenly places, 21 (N)far above (O)all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above (P)every name that is named, not only in (Q)this age but also in the one to come. 22 And (R)he put all things under his feet and gave him as (S)head over all things to the church, 23 (T)which is his body, (U)the fullness of him (V)who fills (W)all in all.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 1:15 Some manuscripts omit your love

Thanksgiving and Prayer

15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus(A) and your love for all God’s people,(B) 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you,(C) remembering you in my prayers.(D) 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,(E) may give you the Spirit[a] of wisdom(F) and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened(G) in order that you may know the hope to which he has called(H) you, the riches(I) of his glorious inheritance(J) in his holy people,(K) 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power(L) is the same as the mighty strength(M) 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead(N) and seated him at his right hand(O) in the heavenly realms,(P) 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion,(Q) and every name(R) that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.(S) 22 And God placed all things under his feet(T) and appointed him to be head(U) over everything for the church, 23 which is his body,(V) the fullness of him(W) who fills everything in every way.(X)

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 1:17 Or a spirit

The Sermon on the Mount

Seeing the crowds, (A)he went up on the mountain, and when he (B)sat down, his disciples came to him.

The Beatitudes

And (C)he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

(D)“Blessed are (E)the poor in spirit, for (F)theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are (G)those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

“Blessed are the (H)meek, for they (I)shall inherit the earth.

“Blessed are those who hunger and (J)thirst (K)for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

“Blessed are (L)the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

“Blessed are (M)the pure in heart, for (N)they shall see God.

“Blessed are (O)the peacemakers, for (P)they shall be called (Q)sons[a] of God.

10 (R)“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for (S)theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 (T)“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely (U)on my account. 12 (V)Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for (W)so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 5:9 Greek huioi; see Preface

Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes(A)

He said:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.(B)
Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.(C)
Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.(D)
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.(E)
Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.(F)
Blessed are the pure in heart,(G)
    for they will see God.(H)
Blessed are the peacemakers,(I)
    for they will be called children of God.(J)
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,(K)
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.(L)

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you,(M) persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.(N) 12 Rejoice and be glad,(O) because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.(P)

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