Revelation 5
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 5
Vision of the Lamb.[a] 1 Then I saw in the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I beheld a mighty angel who proclaimed in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 But there was no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth who was able to open the scroll and examine it.
4 I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and examine it. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed, and thus has won the right to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 Then I saw, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders, a Lamb that had been slain. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent forth into the entire world. 7 He came forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne.
8 When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders prostrated themselves before the Lamb. Each of the elders was holding a harp, and they had gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 They sang a new song:[b]
“You are worthy to receive the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased for God
people of every tribe and language, nation and race.
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on earth.”
11 In my vision, I heard the voices of a multitude of angels who surrounded the throne and the living creatures and the elders. These angels numbered thousands upon thousands and ten thousand times ten thousand of them. 12 And they cried out with a loud voice:
“Worthy is the Lamb that was sacrificed
to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength,
honor and glory and praise.”
13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
“To the one seated on the throne
and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might
forever and ever.”
14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders prostrated themselves in worship.
Footnotes
- Revelation 5:1 As we have seen, the whole universe sings of the limitless power of the Creator. But he is also the Master of the universe, and the book he holds in his hand represents the destiny of the world. The book is held closed by seven seals, i.e., it contains the totality of the events of history, though in a hidden fashion, which no one can unveil.
However, a mediator of the Revelation does exist. He is the Messiah, who is designated here by the titles foretold of him in the Old Testament: the lion of Judah (see Gen 49:9) to whom victory is promised (see Isa 11:1, 10; see also 2 Sam 7), the Messiah King, shoot of the stock from which David was descended.
It is Christ in the power of his Resurrection who receives the mastery over the destinies of the entire universe. He is represented in his glory after the manner of a Lamb slain but standing (the figure of the Paschal Lamb is the main title for Christ in this Book, used twenty-eight times). This unusual expression is intended to recall Passover, the passover lamb, and the sacrificial Death of Christ for the redemption of the human race, but also to assert that he is ever living and the conqueror of death. The seven horns symbolize an infinite power.
The one with infinite power is the Redeemer who has acquired the people by his Blood. The Creator ratifies this and places in Christ’s hands the succession of events until their fulfillment. Then the angels, the elders, and all the great figures in heaven that can be imagined will each come in turn to render the worship due to the Master of time, and the entire universe unites to acclaim the risen one. Indeed, the coming of Christ is a capital turning point, and a new song is required to celebrate it (see Phil 2). - Revelation 5:9 New song: a song that celebrates a new act of divine deliverance (see Rev 14:3; Pss 33:3; 96:1; 144:9; Isa 42:10). With your blood you purchased for God people: the theme of Christ’s sacrificial Death (see Mk 10:45; 1 Cor 6:20).
Okubikkulirwa 5
Endagaano Enkadde nʼEndagaano Empya
Omuzingo gw’Ekitabo n’Omwana gw’Endiga
5 (A)Awo ne ndaba omuzingo gw’ekitabo mu mukono ogwa ddyo ogw’Oyo eyali atudde ku ntebe ey’obwakabaka, nga guwandiikiddwamu munda ne kungulu era nga guteekeddwako obubonero bw’envumbo musanvu. 2 Ne ndaba malayika ow’amaanyi ng’ayogera mu ddoboozi ery’omwanguka ng’abuuza nti, “Ani asaanidde okubembulula obubonero obusibiddwa ku muzingo gw’ekitabo guno alyoke aguzingulule?” 3 Ne wataba n’omu mu ggulu newaakubadde ku nsi, wadde wansi w’ensi, eyayinza okugwanjuluza wadde okugutunulamu. 4 Awo ne nkaaba amaziga mangi, kubanga tewaalabikawo n’omu eyasaanira okwanjuluza omuzingo newaakubadde okugutunulamu. 5 (B)Awo omu ku bakadde abiri mu abana n’aŋŋamba nti, “Lekeraawo okukaaba, kubanga, laba, empologoma ey’omu kika kya Yuda, ow’omu lulyo lwa Dawudi, yawangula, era y’ayinza okukutula obubonero omusanvu obw’envumbo n’okuzingulula omuzingo gw’ekitabo.”
6 (C)Ne ndaba nga ali ng’Omwana gw’Endiga ng’attiddwa ng’ayimiridde wakati w’entebe ey’obwakabaka n’ebiramu ebina, ne wakati w’abakadde, ng’alina amayembe musanvu n’amaaso musanvu, gy’emyoyo omusanvu egya Katonda, egitumibwa mu buli kitundu eky’ensi. 7 (D)N’asembera n’aggya omuzingo gw’ekitabo mu mukono ogwa ddyo ogw’Oyo eyali atudde ku ntebe ey’obwakabaka. 8 (E)Bwe yagukwata, ebiramu ebina n’abakadde amakumi abiri mu abana, ne bagwa mu maaso g’Omwana gw’Endiga ne bavuunama, buli omu ng’alina ennanga era ng’akutte ekibya ekya zaabu, ekyali kijjudde obubaane obwakaloosa nga butegeeza okusaba kw’abantu abatukuvu. 9 (F)Baali bamuyimbira oluyimba oluggya nti,
“Ggw’osaanidde okutoola omuzingo gw’ekitabo,
n’okusumulula ebigusibye n’okuguzingulula,
kubanga wattibwa,
omusaayi gwo ne gununula abantu ba Katonda okubaggya mu buli kika,
na buli lulimi, na buli ggwanga, na buli nsi.
10 (G)N’obafuula obwakabaka ne bakabona ba Katonda okumuweerezanga,
era be balifuga ensi.”
11 (H)Awo ne ndaba era ne mpulira eddoboozi lya bamalayika enkumi n’enkumi, n’enkuyanja nga beetoolodde entebe ey’obwakabaka awamu n’ebiramu biri n’abakadde bali. 12 (I)Ne boogera mu ddoboozi ery’omwanguka nti,
“Omwana gw’Endiga eyattibwa,
asaanidde okuweebwa obuyinza, n’obugagga, n’amagezi n’amaanyi,
n’ekitiibwa, n’ettendo n’okwebazibwa!”
13 (J)Ne ndyoka mpulira buli kitonde kyonna mu ggulu ne ku nsi ne wansi w’ensi ne mu nnyanja ne byonna ebigirimu nga bitendereza nti,
“Okutenderezebwa, n’ettendo, n’ekitiibwa,
n’amaanyi by’Oyo atudde ku ntebe y’obwakabaka awamu n’Omwana gw’Endiga,
Emirembe n’emirembe.”
14 (K)Ebiramu ebina ne biddamu nti, “Amiina.” N’abakadde ne bavuunama ne bamusinza.
Bayibuli Entukuvu, Endagaano Enkadde nʼEndagaano Empya Copyright © 1984, 1986, 1993, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.® Tuweereddwa olukusa okuva mu Biblica, Inc.® Olukusa lwonna mu nsi yonna lusigalidde mu Biblica, Inc. Luganda Contemporary Bible Copyright © 1984, 1986, 1993, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.