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and before the throne there is as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.

And round the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures,[a] full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like a flying eagle. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all round and within, and day and night they never cease to sing,

“Holy, holy, holy,[b] is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come!”

And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever; they cast their crowns before the throne, singing,

11 “Worthy art thou, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for thou didst create all things,
and by thy will they existed and were created.”

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Footnotes

  1. 4.6 four living creatures: cf. Ezek 1.4-25: the four angels who preside over the government of the world. But in Chris tian tradition these symbols are used for the four evangelists.
  2. 4.8 Holy, holy, holy: Quoted in the Sanctus at Mass.

Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass,(A) clear as crystal.

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures,(B) and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.(C) The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.(D) Each of the four living creatures(E) had six wings(F) and was covered with eyes all around,(G) even under its wings. Day and night(H) they never stop saying:

“‘Holy, holy, holy

is the Lord God Almighty,’[a](I)

who was, and is, and is to come.”(J)

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne(K) and who lives for ever and ever,(L) 10 the twenty-four elders(M) fall down before him(N) who sits on the throne(O) and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
    to receive glory and honor and power,(P)
for you created all things,
    and by your will they were created
    and have their being.”(Q)

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 4:8 Isaiah 6:3