Revelation 5-6

New International Version

The Scroll and the Lamb

5 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne^(A) a scroll with writing on both sides^(B) and sealed^(C) with seven seals. ² And I saw a mighty angel^(D) proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” ³ But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. ⁴ I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. ⁵ Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion^(E) of the tribe of Judah,^(F) the Root of David,^(G) has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

⁶ Then I saw a Lamb,^(H) looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures^(I) and the elders.^(J) The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes,^(K) which are the seven spirits^[a](L) of God sent out into all the earth. ⁷ He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.^{(M) 8} And when he had taken it, the four living creatures^(N) and the twenty-four elders^(O) fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp^(P) and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers^(Q) of God’s people. ⁹ And they sang a new song, saying:^(R)

¹¹ Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand.^(Y) They encircled the throne and the living creatures^(Z) and the elders.^{(AA) 12} In a loud voice they were saying:

¹³ Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth^(AE) and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

¹⁴ The four living creatures^(AI) said, “Amen,”^(AJ) and the elders^(AK) fell down and worshiped.^(AL)

The Seals

6 I watched as the Lamb^(AM) opened the first of the seven seals.^(AN) Then I heard one of the four living creatures^(AO) say in a voice like thunder,^(AP) “Come!” ² I looked, and there before me was a white horse!^(AQ) Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown,^(AR) and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.^(AS)

³ When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature^(AT) say, “Come!” ⁴ Then another horse came out, a fiery red one.^(AU) Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth^(AV) and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.

⁵ When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature^(AW) say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse!^(AX) Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. ⁶ Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures,^(AY) saying, “Two pounds^[c] of wheat for a day’s wages,^[d] and six pounds^[e] of barley for a day’s wages,^[f](AZ) and do not damage^(BA) the oil and the wine!”

⁷ When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature^(BB) say, “Come!” ⁸ I looked, and there before me was a pale horse!^(BC) Its rider was named Death, and Hades^(BD) 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.^(BE)

⁹ When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under^(BF) the altar^(BG) the souls of those who had been slain^(BH) because of the word of God^(BI) and the testimony they had maintained. ¹⁰ They called out in a loud voice, “How long,^(BJ) Sovereign Lord,^(BK) holy and true,^(BL) until you judge the inhabitants of the earth^(BM) and avenge our blood?”^{(BN) 11} Then each of them was given a white robe,^(BO) and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters,^[g] were killed just as they had been.^(BP)

¹² I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake.^(BQ) The sun turned black^(BR) like sackcloth^(BS) made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, ¹³ and the stars in the sky fell to earth,^(BT) as figs drop from a fig tree^(BU) when shaken by a strong wind. ¹⁴ The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up,^(BV) and every mountain and island was removed from its place.^(BW)

¹⁵ Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free,^(BX) hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains.^{(BY) 16} They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us^(BZ) and hide us^[h] from the face of him who sits on the throne^(CA) and from the wrath of the Lamb! ¹⁷ For the great day^(CB) of their^[i] wrath has come, and who can withstand it?”^(CC)