Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks

The Scroll and the Lamb

5 Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne ^(A)a scroll written within and on the back, ^(B)sealed with seven seals. ² And ^(C)I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” ³ And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, ⁴ and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. ⁵ And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, ^(D)the Lion ^(E)of the tribe of Judah, ^(F)the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

⁶ And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw ^(G)a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with ^(H)seven eyes, which are ^(I)the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. ⁷ And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. ⁸ And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders ^(J)fell down before the Lamb, ^(K)each holding a harp, and ^(L)golden bowls full of incense, ^(M)which are the prayers of the saints. ⁹ And they sang ^(N)a new song, saying,

¹¹ Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering ^(S)myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, ¹² saying with a loud voice, ^(T)“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honour and glory and blessing!” ¹³ And I heard ^(U)every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour and glory and might for ever and ever!” ¹⁴ And the four living creatures ^(V)said, “Amen!” and the elders ^(W)fell down and worshipped.

The Seven Seals

6 Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of ^(X)the seven seals, and I heard ^(Y)one of the four living creatures say ^(Z)with a voice like thunder, ^(AA)“Come!” ² And I looked, and behold, ^(AB)a white horse! And ^(AC)its rider had a bow, and ^(AD)a crown was given to him, and he came out ^(AE)conquering, and to conquer.

³ When he opened the second seal, I heard ^(AF)the second living creature say, “Come!” ⁴ And out came another horse, ^(AG)bright red. Its rider was permitted ^(AH)to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.

⁵ When he opened the third seal, I heard the ^(AI)third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, ^(AJ)a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. ⁶ And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, ^(AK)“A quart^[a] of wheat for a denarius,^[b] and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and ^(AL)do not harm the oil and wine!”

⁷ When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of ^(AM)the fourth living creature say, “Come!” ⁸ And I looked, and behold, ^(AN)a pale horse! And its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a quarter of the earth, to kill ^(AO)with sword and with famine and with pestilence and ^(AP)by wild beasts of the earth.

⁹ When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under ^(AQ)the altar ^(AR)the souls of those who had been slain ^(AS)for the word of God and for ^(AT)the witness they had borne. ¹⁰ They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, ^(AU)holy and true, ^(AV)how long ^(AW)before you will judge and ^(AX)avenge our blood on ^(AY)those who dwell on the earth?” ¹¹ Then they were each given ^(AZ)a white robe and ^(BA)told to rest a little longer, ^(BB)until the number of their fellow servants^[c] and their brothers^{[d] (BC)}should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

¹² When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, ^(BD)there was a great earthquake, and ^(BE)the sun became black as ^(BF)sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, ¹³ and ^(BG)the stars of the sky fell to the earth ^(BH)as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. ^14 (BI)The sky vanished ^(BJ)like a scroll that is being rolled up, and ^(BK)every mountain and island was removed from its place. ¹⁵ Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave^[e] and free, ^(BL)hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, ^16 (BM)calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of ^(BN)him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, ¹⁷ for ^(BO)the great day of their wrath has come, and ^(BP)who can stand?”