Add parallel Print Page Options

And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, Come[a]. And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon had a bow; and there was given unto him a crown: and he came forth conquering, and to conquer.

And when he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, Come[b]. And another horse came forth, a red horse: and to him that sat thereon it was given to take [c]peace from the earth, and that they should slay one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

And when he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, Come. [d]And I saw, and behold, a black horse; and he that sat thereon had a balance in his hand. And I heard as it were a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, [e]A measure of wheat for a [f]shilling, and three measures of barley for a [g]shilling; and the oil and the wine hurt thou not.

And when he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, Come[h]. And I saw, and behold, a pale horse: and he that sat upon him, his name was Death; and Hades followed with him. And there was given unto them authority over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with famine, and with [i]death, and by the wild beasts of the earth.

And when he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of them that had been slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10 and they cried with a great voice, saying, How long, O Master, the holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11 And there was given them to each one a white robe; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little time, until their fellow-servants also and their brethren, who should be killed even as they were, should [j]have fulfilled their course.

12 And I saw when he opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the whole moon became as blood; 13 and the stars of the heaven fell unto the earth, as a fig tree casteth her unripe figs when she is shaken of a great wind. 14 And the heaven was removed as a scroll when it is rolled up; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15 And the kings of the earth, and the princes, and the [k]chief captains, and the rich, and the strong, and every bondman and freeman, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains; 16 and they say to the mountains and to the rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17 for the great day of their wrath is come; and who is able to stand?

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 6:1 Some ancient authorities add and see.
  2. Revelation 6:3 Some ancient authorities add and see.
  3. Revelation 6:4 Some ancient authorities read the peace of the earth.
  4. Revelation 6:5 Some ancient authorities add and see.
  5. Revelation 6:6 Or, A choenix (i.e. about a quart) of wheat for a shilling—implying great scarcity. Compare Ezek. 4:16f; 5:16.
  6. Revelation 6:6 See marginal note on Mt. 18:28.
  7. Revelation 6:6 See marginal note on Mt. 18:28.
  8. Revelation 6:7 Some ancient authorities add and see.
  9. Revelation 6:8 Or, pestilence. Compare 2:23 margin.
  10. Revelation 6:11 Some ancient authorities read be fulfilled in number; 2 Esdr. 4:36
  11. Revelation 6:15 Or, military tribunes. Greek chiliarchs.

The First Seal—Rider on White Horse

Then I saw when the (A)Lamb broke one of the (B)seven seals, and I heard one of the (C)four living creatures saying as with a (D)voice of thunder, “Come[a].” I looked, and behold, a (E)white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and (F)a crown was given to him, and he went out (G)conquering and to conquer.

The Second Seal—War

When He broke the second seal, I heard the (H)second living creature saying, “Come[b].” And another, (I)a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to (J)take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.

The Third Seal—Famine

When He broke the third seal, I heard the (K)third living creature saying, “Come[c].” I looked, and behold, a (L)black horse; and he who sat on it had a (M)pair of scales in his hand. And I heard something like a voice in the center of the (N)four living creatures saying, “A [d]quart of wheat for a [e]denarius, and three [f]quarts of barley for a [g]denarius; and (O)do not damage the oil and the wine.”

The Fourth Seal—Death

When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the (P)fourth living creature saying, “Come[h].” I looked, and behold, an [i](Q)ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name (R)Death; and (S)Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, (T)to kill with sword and with famine and with [j]pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.

The Fifth Seal—Martyrs

When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw (U)underneath the (V)altar the (W)souls of those who had been slain (X)because of the word of God, and because of the (Y)testimony which they had maintained; 10 and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “(Z)How long, O [k](AA)Lord, (AB)holy and true, [l]will You refrain from (AC)judging and avenging our blood on (AD)those who dwell on the earth?” 11 And (AE)there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should (AF)rest for a little while longer, (AG)until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be (AH)completed also.

The Sixth Seal—Terror

12 I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great (AI)earthquake; and the (AJ)sun became black as (AK)sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; 13 and (AL)the stars of the sky fell to the earth, (AM)as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. 14 (AN)The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and (AO)every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15 Then (AP)the kings of the earth and the great men and the [m]commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; 16 and they *(AQ)said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the [n]presence of Him (AR)who sits on the throne, and from the (AS)wrath of the Lamb; 17 for (AT)the great day of their wrath has come, and (AU)who is able to stand?”

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 6:1 One early ms reads and see
  2. Revelation 6:3 One early ms reads and see
  3. Revelation 6:5 One early ms reads and see
  4. Revelation 6:6 Gr choenix; i.e. a dry measure almost equal to a qt
  5. Revelation 6:6 The denarius was equivalent to a day’s wages
  6. Revelation 6:6 Gr choenix; i.e. a dry measure almost equal to a qt
  7. Revelation 6:6 The denarius was equivalent to a day’s wages
  8. Revelation 6:7 One early ms reads and see
  9. Revelation 6:8 Or sickly pale
  10. Revelation 6:8 Or death
  11. Revelation 6:10 Or Master
  12. Revelation 6:10 Lit do You not judge and avenge
  13. Revelation 6:15 I.e. chiliarchs, in command of one thousand troops
  14. Revelation 6:16 Lit face

The Seals

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!” 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)

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

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. 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!”

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

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)

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 6:6 Or about 1 kilogram
  2. Revelation 6:6 Greek a denarius
  3. Revelation 6:6 Or about 3 kilograms
  4. Revelation 6:6 Greek a denarius
  5. Revelation 6:11 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 12:10; 19:10.
  6. Revelation 6:16 See Hosea 10:8.
  7. Revelation 6:17 Some manuscripts his