The scroll and the Lamb
1Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?’ 3But no-one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4I wept and wept because no-one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.’
6Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the centre of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits5:6 That is, the sevenfold Spirit of God sent out into all the earth. 7He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 9And they sang a new song, saying:
‘You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign5:10 Some manuscripts they reign on the earth.’
11Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12In a loud voice they were saying:
‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honour and glory and praise!’
13Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honour and glory and power,
for ever and ever!’
14The four living creatures said, ‘Amen’, and the elders fell down and worshipped.
羔羊與封印的書卷
1接著，我看見坐在寶座上的那位右手拿著一卷內外寫著字、用七個印封住的書。 2有一位大力天使高聲問道：「誰有資格揭開那七個封印，打開那卷書？」 3可是，天上、地上、甚至地底下都沒有人有資格揭開並閱讀那卷書。 4我見無人有資格揭開並閱讀那卷書，便放聲大哭。 5有一位長老對我說：「不要哭。你看，猶大支派的獅子、大衛的根已經得勝了！祂能揭開那七個封印，打開那卷書。」
6我又看到寶座、四個活物和眾長老之間站著一隻好像是被宰殺過的羔羊。祂身上的七隻角和七隻眼睛代表奉差遣到普天下去的上帝的七靈。 7那羔羊走上前去，從坐在寶座上的那位右手中接過書卷。 8祂拿過書卷後，四個活物和二十四位長老就俯伏在羔羊面前，各拿著豎琴和盛滿了香的金香爐。那些香就是眾聖徒的祈禱。 9他們唱著一首新歌：
「你配拿書卷並揭開封印，
因你曾被殺，
用你的血從各部落、各語言族群、各民族、各國家，
將人買贖回來歸給上帝。
10你又使他們成為上帝的國度和祭司，
他們要在地上執掌王權。」
11我看見寶座、四個活物和眾長老的周圍有千千萬萬的天使，又聽見他們高聲呼喊： 12「那被殺的羔羊配得權柄、財富、智慧、能力、尊貴、榮耀和頌讚！」
13我又聽到天上、地上、地底下和海洋中一切被造之物同聲說：「願頌讚、尊貴、榮耀和權柄都歸於坐在寶座上的那位和羔羊，直到永永遠遠！」 14四個活物就說：「阿們！」眾長老也俯伏敬拜。
