Revelation 4-5

New International Version

The Throne in Heaven

4 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open^(A) in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet^(B) said, “Come up here,^(C) and I will show you what must take place after this.”^(D) ²At once I was in the Spirit,^(E) and there before me was a throne in heaven^(F) with someone sitting on it. ³And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper^(G) and ruby.^(H) A rainbow^(I) that shone like an emerald^(J) encircled the throne. ⁴Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders.^(K) They were dressed in white^(L) and had crowns of gold on their heads. ⁵From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder.^(M) In front of the throne, seven lamps^(N) were blazing. These are the seven spirits^[a]^(O) of God. ⁶Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass,^(P) clear as crystal.

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures,^(Q) and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.^(R) ⁷The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.^(S) ⁸Each of the four living creatures^(T) had six wings^(U) and was covered with eyes all around,^(V) even under its wings. Day and night^(W) they never stop saying:

“‘Holy, holy, holy

is the Lord God Almighty,’^[b]^(X)

who was, and is, and is to come.”^(Y)

⁹Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne^(Z) and who lives for ever and ever,^(AA) ¹⁰the twenty-four elders^(AB) fall down before him^(AC) who sits on the throne^(AD) and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

¹¹“You are worthy, our Lord and God,
    to receive glory and honor and power,^(AE)
for you created all things,
    and by your will they were created
    and have their being.”^(AF)

The Scroll and the Lamb

5 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne^(AG) a scroll with writing on both sides^(AH) and sealed^(AI) with seven seals. ²And I saw a mighty angel^(AJ) 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^(AK) of the tribe of Judah,^(AL) the Root of David,^(AM) has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

⁶Then I saw a Lamb,^(AN) looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures^(AO) and the elders.^(AP) The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes,^(AQ) which are the seven spirits^[c]^(AR) 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.^(AS) ⁸And when he had taken it, the four living creatures^(AT) and the twenty-four elders^(AU) fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp^(AV) and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers^(AW) of God’s people. ⁹And they sang a new song, saying:^(AX)

“You are worthy^(AY) to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
    and with your blood^(AZ) you purchased^(BA) for God
    persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.^(BB)
¹⁰You have made them to be a kingdom and priests^(BC) to serve our God,
    and they will reign^[d] on the earth.”^(BD)

¹¹Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand.^(BE) They encircled the throne and the living creatures^(BF) and the elders.^(BG) ¹²In a loud voice they were saying:

“Worthy is the Lamb,^(BH) who was slain,^(BI)
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”^(BJ)

¹³Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth^(BK) and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

“To him who sits on the throne^(BL) and to the Lamb^(BM)
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”^(BN)

¹⁴The four living creatures^(BO) said, “Amen,”^(BP) and the elders^(BQ) fell down and worshiped.^(BR)

Footnotes

Revelation 4:5 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
Revelation 4:8 Isaiah 6:3
Revelation 5:6 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
Revelation 5:10 Some manuscripts they reign

Psalm 35

New International Version

Psalm 35

Of David.

¹Contend,^(A) Lord, with those who contend with me;
    fight^(B) against those who fight against me.
²Take up shield^(C) and armor;
    arise^(D) and come to my aid.^(E)
³Brandish spear^(F) and javelin^[a]^(G)
    against those who pursue me.
Say to me,
    “I am your salvation.^(H)”

⁴May those who seek my life^(I)
    be disgraced^(J) and put to shame;^(K)
may those who plot my ruin
    be turned back^(L) in dismay.
⁵May they be like chaff^(M) before the wind,
    with the angel of the Lord^(N) driving them away;
⁶may their path be dark and slippery,
    with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.

⁷Since they hid their net^(O) for me without cause^(P)
    and without cause dug a pit^(Q) for me,
⁸may ruin overtake them by surprise—^(R)
    may the net they hid entangle them,
    may they fall into the pit,^(S) to their ruin.
⁹Then my soul will rejoice^(T) in the Lord
    and delight in his salvation.^(U)
¹⁰My whole being will exclaim,
    “Who is like you,^(V) Lord?
You rescue the poor from those too strong^(W) for them,
    the poor and needy^(X) from those who rob them.”

¹¹Ruthless witnesses^(Y) come forward;
    they question me on things I know nothing about.
¹²They repay me evil for good^(Z)
    and leave me like one bereaved.
¹³Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth^(AA)
    and humbled myself with fasting.^(AB)
When my prayers returned to me unanswered,
¹⁴    I went about mourning^(AC)
    as though for my friend or brother.
I bowed my head in grief
    as though weeping for my mother.
¹⁵But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;^(AD)
    assailants gathered against me without my knowledge.
    They slandered^(AE) me without ceasing.
¹⁶Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked;^[b]^(AF)
    they gnashed their teeth^(AG) at me.

¹⁷How long,^(AH) Lord, will you look on?
    Rescue me from their ravages,
    my precious life^(AI) from these lions.^(AJ)
¹⁸I will give you thanks in the great assembly;^(AK)
    among the throngs^(AL) I will praise you.^(AM)
¹⁹Do not let those gloat over me
    who are my enemies^(AN) without cause;
do not let those who hate me without reason^(AO)
    maliciously wink the eye.^(AP)
²⁰They do not speak peaceably,
    but devise false accusations^(AQ)
    against those who live quietly in the land.
²¹They sneer^(AR) at me and say, “Aha! Aha!^(AS)
    With our own eyes we have seen it.”

²²Lord, you have seen^(AT) this; do not be silent.
    Do not be far^(AU) from me, Lord.
²³Awake,^(AV) and rise^(AW) to my defense!
    Contend^(AX) for me, my God and Lord.
²⁴Vindicate me in your righteousness, Lord my God;
    do not let them gloat^(AY) over me.
²⁵Do not let them think, “Aha,^(AZ) just what we wanted!”
    or say, “We have swallowed him up.”^(BA)

²⁶May all who gloat^(BB) over my distress^(BC)
    be put to shame^(BD) and confusion;
may all who exalt themselves over me^(BE)
    be clothed with shame and disgrace.
²⁷May those who delight in my vindication^(BF)
    shout for joy^(BG) and gladness;
may they always say, “The Lord be exalted,
    who delights^(BH) in the well-being of his servant.”^(BI)