¹⁴ And because of the signs (miracles) which he is allowed to perform in the presence of the [first] beast, he deceives those who inhabit the earth, commanding them to erect a statue (an image) in the likeness of the beast who was wounded by the [small] sword and still lived.^(A)

¹⁵ And he is permitted [also] to impart the breath of life into the beast’s image, so that the statue of the beast could actually talk and cause to be put to death those who would not bow down and worship the image of the beast.^(B)

¹⁶ Also he compels all [alike], both small and great, both the rich and the poor, both free and slave, to be marked with an inscription [^[a]stamped] on their right hands or on their foreheads,