God's New Bible

The Revelation of St. John the Divine

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- Chapter 5 -

1
And in the right hand of the One sitting upon the throne, I saw a book, written inside and out, sealed with seven seals.
2
And I saw a strong Angel, proclaiming with a great voice, “Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?”
3
And no one was able, neither in heaven, nor on earth, nor under the earth, to open the book, nor to gaze upon it.
4
And I wept greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book, nor to see it.
5
And one of the elders said to me: “Weep not. Behold, the lion from the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has prevailed to open the book and to break its seven seals.”
6
And I saw, and behold, in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb was standing, as if it were slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God, sent forth to all the earth.
7
And he approached and received the book from the right hand of the One sitting upon the throne.
8
And when he had opened the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having stringed instruments, as well as golden bowls full of fragrances, which are the prayers of the saints.(a)
9
And they were singing a new canticle, saying: “O Lord, you are worthy to receive the book and to open its seals, because you were slain and have redeemed us for God, by your blood, from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10
And you have made us into a kingdom and into priests for our God, and we shall reign over the earth.”

The Lamb Exalted

11
And I saw, and I heard the voice of many Angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders, (and their number was thousands of thousands)
12
saying with a great voice: “The Lamb who was slain is worthy to receive power, and divinity, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.”
13
And every creature that is in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and all that is within the sea: I heard them all saying: “To the One sitting upon the throne and to the Lamb be blessing, and honor, and glory, and authority, forever and ever.”(b)
14
And the four living creatures were saying, “Amen.” And the twenty-four elders fell down on their faces, and they adored the One who lives forever and ever.(c)

Footnotes

(a)5:8 The prayers of saints:Here we see that the saints in heaven offer up to Christ the prayers of the faithful upon earth.(Challoner)
(b)5:13 Here the sea is a figure of Purgatory.(Conte)
(c)5:14 The use of the imperfect tense indicates that the four living creatures were saying ‘Amen’ over and over again.(Conte)
1
I saw, in the right hand of him who sat on the throne, a book written inside and outside, sealed shut with seven seals.
2
I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book, and to break its seals?”
3
No one in heaven above, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book or to look in it.
4
Then I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look in it.
5
One of the elders said to me, “Don’t weep. Behold, the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome: he who opens the book and its seven seals.”
6
I saw in the middle of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the middle of the elders, a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.
7
Then he came, and he took it out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne.
8
Now when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
9
They sang a new song, saying, “You are worthy to take the book and to open its seals, for you were killed, and bought us for God with your blood out of every tribe, language, people, and nation,
10
and made us kings and priests to our God; and we will reign on the earth.”

The Lamb Exalted

11
I looked, and I heard something like a voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders. The number of them was ten thousands of ten thousands, and thousands of thousands,
12
saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who has been killed to receive the power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing!”
13
I heard every created thing which is in heaven, on the earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion, forever and ever! Amen!”(a)
14
The four living creatures said, “Amen!” Then the (b) elders fell down and worshiped.(c)

Footnotes

(a)5:13 TR omits “Amen!”
(b)5:14 TR adds “twenty-four”
(c)5:14 TR adds “the one living forever and ever”
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