羔羊与封印的书卷
1接着，我看见坐在宝座上的那位右手拿着一卷内外写着字、用七个印封住的书。 2我又看见一位大能天使高声问道：“谁有资格揭开那七个封印，打开书卷？” 3可是，天上、地上、甚至地底下谁都没有资格开卷阅读。 4我见谁都没有资格开卷阅读，便放声大哭。 5有一位长老对我说：“不要哭！看啊，犹大支派的狮子，大卫的根已经得胜了，祂能揭开那七个封印，打开书卷。”
6我又看到宝座、四个活物和众长老之间站着一只好像是被宰杀过的羔羊。祂有七只角和七只眼睛，这些是指被派往普天下的上帝的七灵。 7羔羊走上前去，从坐在宝座上的那位右手中接过书卷。 8祂拿过书卷后，四个活物和二十四位长老就各拿着竖琴和盛满了香的金香炉，俯伏在羔羊面前。那些香就是众圣徒的祈祷。 9他们唱着一首新歌：
“你配拿书卷并揭开封印，
因你曾被杀，
用你的血从各部落、各语言族群、各民族、各国家，
将人买赎回来归给上帝。
10你又使他们成为上帝的国度和祭司，
他们要在地上执掌王权。”
11我又看见宝座、四个活物和众长老的周围有千千万万的天使，并听见他们高声呼喊： 12“曾被杀的羔羊配得权柄、财富、智慧、能力、尊贵、荣耀和颂赞！”
13我又听到天上、地上、地底下和海洋中一切被造之物同声说：“愿颂赞、尊贵、荣耀和权柄都归给坐在宝座上的那位和羔羊，直到永永远远！” 14四个活物就说：“阿们！”众长老也俯伏敬拜。
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 center 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 honor 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 honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”
14The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
