Revelation 5
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 5
The Scroll and the Lamb.[a] 1 I saw a scroll[b] in the right hand of the one who sat on the throne. It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals.(A) 2 Then I saw a mighty angel who proclaimed in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to examine it. 4 I shed many tears because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to examine it. 5 One of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. The lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David,[c] has triumphed, enabling him to open the scroll with its seven seals.”(B)
6 Then I saw standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and the elders a Lamb[d] that seemed to have been slain. He had seven horns and seven eyes; these are the [seven] spirits of God sent out into the whole world.(C) 7 He came and received the scroll from the right hand of the one who sat on the throne. 8 When he took it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each of the elders held a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones. 9 They sang a new hymn:
“Worthy are you to receive the scroll
and to break open its seals,
for you were slain and with your blood you purchased for God
those from every tribe and tongue, people and nation.
10 You made them a kingdom and priests for our God,
and they will reign on earth.”(D)
11 I looked again and heard the voices of many angels who surrounded the throne and the living creatures and the elders. They were countless[e] in number,(E) 12 and they cried out in a loud voice:
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength,
honor and glory and blessing.”
13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, everything in the universe, cry out:
“To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor, glory and might,
forever and ever.”
14 The four living creatures answered, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Footnotes
- 5:1–14 The seer now describes a papyrus roll in God’s right hand (Rev 5:1) with seven seals indicating the importance of the message. A mighty angel asks who is worthy to open the scroll, i.e., who can accomplish God’s salvific plan (Rev 5:2). There is despair at first when no one in creation can do it (Rev 5:3–4). But the seer is comforted by an elder who tells him that Christ, called the lion of the tribe of Judah, has won the right to open it (Rev 5:5). Christ then appears as a Lamb, coming to receive the scroll from God (Rev 5:6–7), for which he is acclaimed as at a coronation (Rev 5:8–10). This is followed by a doxology of the angels (Rev 5:11–12) and then finally by the heavenly church united with all of creation (Rev 5:13–14).
- 5:1 A scroll: a papyrus roll possibly containing a list of afflictions for sinners (cf. Ez 2:9–10) or God’s plan for the world. Sealed with seven seals: it is totally hidden from all but God. Only the Lamb (Rev 5:7–9) has the right to carry out the divine plan.
- 5:5 The lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David: these are the messianic titles applied to Christ to symbolize his victory; cf. Rev 22:16; Gn 49:9; Is 11:1, 10; Mt 1:1.
- 5:6 Christ is the Paschal Lamb without blemish, whose blood saved the new Israel from sin and death; cf. Ex 12; Is 53:7; Jn 1:29, 36; Acts 8:32; 1 Pt 1:18–19. This is the main title for Christ in Revelation, used twenty-eight times. Seven horns and seven eyes: Christ has the fullness (see note on Rev 1:4) of power (horns) and knowledge (eyes); cf. Zec 4:7. [Seven] spirits: as in Rev 1:4; 3:1; 4:5.
- 5:11 Countless: literally, “100,000,000 plus 1,000,000,” used by the author to express infinity.
Pahayag 5
Magandang Balita Biblia
Ang Kasulatan at ang Kordero
5 Nakita(A) ko sa kanang kamay ng nakaupo sa trono ang isang kasulatang nakabalumbon, na may sulat sa loob at labas at sinarhan ng pitong selyo. 2 At nakita ko rin ang isang makapangyarihang anghel na nagtanong nang malakas, “Sino ang karapat-dapat na mag-alis sa mga selyo at magbukas sa balumbon?” 3 Ngunit wala ni isa man, maging sa langit, maging sa lupa o sa ilalim ng lupa,[a] na makapagbukas o makatingin sa nilalaman niyon. 4 Buong kapaitan akong umiyak dahil walang natagpuang karapat-dapat na magbukas at tumingin sa nilalaman niyon. 5 Ngunit(B) sinabi sa akin ng isa sa matatandang pinuno, “Huwag kang umiyak. Tingnan mo! Ang Leon mula sa lipi ni Juda, ang anak ni David ay nagtagumpay at may karapatang mag-alis sa pitong selyo at magbukas sa kasulatang nakabalumbon.”
6 Pagkatapos,(C) nakita ko sa pagitan ng matatandang pinuno at ng tronong napapaligiran ng apat na buháy na nilalang ang isang Korderong nakatayo na ang anyo ay tulad sa pinatay na. Ito'y may pitong sungay at pitong mata na siyang pitong espiritu ng Diyos na ipinadala sa buong daigdig. 7 Lumapit ang Kordero at kinuha ang kasulatang nakabalumbon sa kanang kamay ng nakaupo sa trono. 8 Nang(D) ito'y kunin niya, nagpatirapa sa harapan ng Kordero ang apat na buháy na nilalang at ang dalawampu't apat (24) na matatandang pinuno. Bawat isa'y may hawak na alpa at may gintong mangkok na punô ng insenso na siyang mga panalangin ng mga hinirang ng Diyos. 9 Inaawit(E) nila ang isang bagong awit:
“Ikaw ang karapat-dapat na kumuha sa kasulatang nakabalumbon
at magtanggal sa mga selyo niyon.
Sapagkat pinatay ka, at sa pamamagitan ng iyong dugo ay tinubos mo ang mga tao para sa Diyos,
mula sa bawat lahi, wika, bayan at bansa.
10 Ginawa(F) mo silang isang lahing maharlika at mga pari na itinalaga upang maglingkod sa ating Diyos;
at sila'y maghahari sa lupa.”
11 Tumingin(G) akong muli at narinig ko ang tinig ng milyun-milyon at libu-libong anghel. Sila'y nakapaligid sa trono, sa apat na buháy na nilalang at sa matatandang pinuno. 12 Umaawit sila nang malakas,
“Ang Korderong pinatay ay karapat-dapat
tumanggap ng kapangyarihan, kayamanan, karunungan, kalakasan,
kaluwalhatian, papuri at paggalang!”
13 At narinig kong umaawit ang bawat nilikhang nasa langit, nasa lupa, nasa ilalim ng lupa at nasa dagat, lahat ng mga naroroon,
“Sa nakaupo sa trono, at sa Kordero,
ang papuri at karangalan, kaluwalhatian at kapangyarihan,
magpakailanman!”
14 At sumagot ang apat na nilalang na buháy, “Amen!” At nagpatirapa ang matatandang pinuno at nagsisamba.
Footnotes
- Pahayag 5:3 ilalim ng lupa: o kaya'y daigdig ng mga patay .
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
Magandang Balita Biblia, Copyright © Philippine Bible Society 2012.
