The Seals

6 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!” ² 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)

³ When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature^(H) say, “Come!” ⁴ 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.

⁵ 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. ⁶ 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!”

⁷ When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature^(P) say, “Come!” ⁸ 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)

⁹ 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)

²¹ “‘If you remain hostile^(A) toward me and refuse to listen to me, I will multiply your afflictions seven times over,^(B) as your sins deserve. ²² I will send wild animals^(C) against you, and they will rob you of your children, destroy your cattle and make you so few^(D) in number that your roads will be deserted.^(E)

²³ “‘If in spite of these things you do not accept my correction^(F) but continue to be hostile toward me, ²⁴ I myself will be hostile^(G) toward you and will afflict you for your sins seven times over. ²⁵ And I will bring the sword^(H) on you to avenge^(I) the breaking of the covenant. When you withdraw into your cities, I will send a plague^(J) among you, and you will be given into enemy hands. ²⁶ When I cut off your supply of bread,^(K) ten women will be able to bake your bread in one oven, and they will dole out the bread by weight. You will eat, but you will not be satisfied.

¹⁶ He then said to me: “Son of man, I am about to cut off^(A) the food supply in Jerusalem. The people will eat rationed food in anxiety and drink rationed water in despair,^(B)

⁷ and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven^(A) in blazing fire^(B) with his powerful angels.^{(C) 8} He will punish^(D) those who do not know God^(E) and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.^{(F) 9} They will be punished with everlasting destruction^(G) and shut out from the presence of the Lord^(H) and from the glory of his might^{(I) 10} on the day^(J) he comes to be glorified^(K) in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.^(L)