Revelation 17 – NIV & CCB

New International Version

Revelation 17:1-18

Babylon, the Prostitute on the Beast

1One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits by many waters. 2With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”

3Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. 4The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. 5The name written on her forehead was a mystery:

babylon the great

the mother of prostitutes

and of the abominations of the earth.

6I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus.

When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. 7Then the angel said to me: “Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns. 8The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come.

9“This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. 10They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. 11The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.

12“The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. 13They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. 14They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”

15Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. 16The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority, until God’s words are fulfilled. 18The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”

Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)

启示录 17:1-18

大淫妇的下场

1拿着七碗的七位天使中有一位前来对我说:“你过来!我要让你看那坐在众水之上的大淫妇将要遭受的刑罚。 2地上的君王与她行淫,地上其他人也因喝了她淫乱的酒而酩酊大醉。”

3那时,我被圣灵感动,被天使带到旷野,在那里见到一个妇人骑着一只朱红色的怪兽。怪兽有七头十角,浑身写满亵渎上帝的名号。 4那妇人身穿紫色和朱红色的袍子,用黄金、宝石及珍珠装扮自己。她手中拿着金杯,里面盛满了她淫乱的污秽、可憎之物。 5在她额上还写了一个神秘的名号:“大巴比伦——地上淫妇及可憎事物之母”。 6我又见她醉了,因她喝了众圣徒的血,就是为耶稣做见证之人的血。

我看见她,非常惊奇。 7天使对我说:“你为什么这样惊奇呢?我要将这妇人和她骑的七头十角怪兽的奥秘告诉你。 8你看见的这怪兽以前出现过,现今没有出现,将来要从无底坑上来,然后走向灭亡。那些住在地上、自创世以来名字没有记在生命册上的人,都因见到这只从前出现过、现今没有出现、将来会再出现的怪兽而感到惊奇。 9这里需要智慧才能明白,它的七个头代表那妇人坐镇的七座山,又代表七个王。 10其中五个已经衰亡,一个还在,另外一个还未来到,他来后只能短暂存留。 11那从前出现过、现今没有出现的怪兽是第八个王,他是七个王之一,也要走向灭亡。 12你看见的那十个角象征另外十个还没有得势的王,他们将取得王权和那怪兽一同统治短暂的一段时期。 13他们一致同意把自己所有的能力和权柄交给那怪兽。 14他们将与羔羊交战,但羔羊必胜过他们,因为羔羊是万主之主,万王之王。那些跟随羔羊的是被呼召、蒙拣选、忠心耿耿的人。”

15天使又对我说:“你看见的那淫妇所坐的众水象征来自各民族、各国家、各语言族群的人。 16怪兽和它头上的十角必憎恨那淫妇,使她赤身露体、景况凄凉。它们要吃她的肉,最后用火将她烧尽。 17因为上帝使众王定意这样做,好完成祂的旨意。他们便同心将政权交给那怪兽,直到上帝的话得到实现。 18你看见的那妇人就是那掌管世上众王的大城。”