Revelation 6
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Seven Seals
6 Then I saw the Lamb break one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures call out, as with a voice of thunder, “Come!”[a](A) 2 I looked, and there was a white horse! Its rider had a bow; a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering and to conquer.(B)
3 When he broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature call out, “Come!”[b] 4 And out came[c] another horse, bright red; its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people would slaughter one another, and he was given a great sword.(C)
5 When he broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature call out, “Come!”[d] I looked, and there was a black horse! Its rider held a pair of scales in his hand,(D) 6 and I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a day’s pay[e] and three quarts of barley for a day’s pay,[f] but do not damage the olive oil and the wine!”
7 When he broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature call out, “Come!”[g] 8 I looked, and there was a pale green horse! Its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed with him; they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, famine, and pestilence and by the wild animals of the earth.(E)
9 When he broke the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered for the word of God and for the testimony they had given;(F) 10 they cried out with a loud voice, “Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long will it be before you judge and avenge our blood on the inhabitants of the earth?”(G) 11 They were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number would be complete both of their fellow servants and of their brothers and sisters who were soon to be killed as they themselves had been killed.(H)
12 When he broke the sixth seal, I looked, and there was a great earthquake; the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood,(I) 13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree drops its winter fruit when shaken by a gale.(J) 14 The sky vanished like a scroll rolling itself up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.(K) 15 Then the kings of the earth and the magnates and the generals and the rich and the powerful and everyone, slave and free, hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains,(L) 16 calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb,(M) 17 for the great day of their[h] wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”(N)
Revelation 6
New American Standard Bible
The First Seal: Conqueror on a White Horse
6 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]!” 2 I looked, and behold, a (E)white horse, and the one 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
3 When He broke the second seal, I heard the (H)second living creature saying, “Come[b]!” 4 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 people would kill one another; and a large sword was given to him.
The Third Seal: Famine
5 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 the one who sat on it had a (M)pair of scales in his hand. 6 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
7 When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the (P)fourth living creature saying, “Come[h]!” 8 I looked, and behold, [i]an (Q)ashen horse; and the one 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 famine, and [j]plague, and by the wild animals of the earth.
The Fifth Seal: Martyrs
9 When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw (U)underneath the (V)altar the (W)souls of those who had been killed (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 live on the earth?” 11 And a (AE)white robe was given to each of them; and they were told that they were to (AF)rest for a little while longer, (AG)until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers and sisters who were to be killed even as they had been, was (AH)completed also.
The Sixth Seal: Terror
12 And I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great (AI)earthquake; and the (AJ)sun became as 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 drops 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 was removed from its place. 15 Then (AP)the kings of the earth and the eminent people, and the commanders and the wealthy and the strong, and every slave and free person hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; 16 and they *(AQ)said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the [m]sight 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
- Revelation 6:1 One early ms and see
- Revelation 6:3 One early ms and see
- Revelation 6:5 One early ms and see
- Revelation 6:6 Gr choenix; i.e., a dry measure almost equal to a qt.
- Revelation 6:6 The denarius was a day’s wages for a laborer
- Revelation 6:6 Gr choenix; i.e., a dry measure almost equal to a qt.
- Revelation 6:6 The denarius was a day’s wages for a laborer
- Revelation 6:7 One early ms and see
- Revelation 6:8 Or a sickly pale green
- Revelation 6:8 Lit death; i.e., a particular kind of death
- Revelation 6:10 Or Master
- Revelation 6:10 Lit do You not judge and avenge
- Revelation 6:16 Lit face
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
