1 A nd I saw lying on the open hand of Him Who was seated on the throne a scroll (book) written within and on the back, closed and sealed with seven seals;

I saw a book in the right hand of the One Who sat on the a throne. It had writing on the inside and on the back side. It was locked with seven locks.

2 A nd I saw a strong angel announcing in a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the scroll? And to break its seals?

I saw a powerful angel calling with a loud voice, “Who is able to open the book and to break its locks?”

3 A nd no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to take a look at its contents.

No one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look in it.

4 A nd I wept audibly and bitterly because no one was found fit to open the scroll or to inspect it.

Then I began to cry with loud cries. I cried because no one was good enough to open the book or to look in it.

5 T hen one of the elders '> of the heavenly Sanhedrin] said to me, Stop weeping! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root (Source) of David, has won (has overcome and conquered)! He can open the scroll and break its seven seals!

One of the leaders said to me, “Stop crying. See! The Lion from the family group of Judah has power and has won. He can open the book and break its seven locks. He is of the family of David.”

6 A nd there between the throne and the four living creatures (beings) and among the elders '> of the heavenly Sanhedrin] I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God '> the sevenfold Holy Spirit] Who have been sent into all the earth.

I saw a Lamb standing in front of the twenty-four leaders. He was before the throne and in front of the four living beings. He looked as if He had been killed. He had seven horns and seven eyes. These are the seven Spirits of God. They have been sent out into all the world.

7 H e then went and took the scroll from the right hand of Him Who sat on the throne.

The Lamb came and took the book from the right hand of the One Who sat on the throne.

8 A nd when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders '> of the heavenly Sanhedrin] prostrated themselves before the Lamb. Each was holding a harp (lute or guitar), and they had golden bowls full of incense (fragrant spices and gums for burning), which are the prayers of God’s people (the saints).

When the Lamb had taken the book, the four living beings and the twenty-four leaders got down before Him. Each one had a harp. They all had pots made of gold, full of special perfume, which are the prayers of the people who belong to God.

9 A nd they sing a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the scroll and to break the seals that are on it, for You were slain (sacrificed), and with Your blood You purchased men unto God from every tribe and language and people and nation.

They sang a new song, saying, “It is right for You to take the book and break its locks. It is because You were killed. Your blood has bought men for God from every family and from every language and from every kind of people and from every nation.

10 A nd You have made them a kingdom (royal race) and priests to our God, and they shall reign over the earth!

You have made them to be a holy nation of religious leaders to work for our God. They will be the leaders on the earth.”

11 T hen I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels on every side of the throne and of the living creatures and the elders '> of the heavenly Sanhedrin], and they numbered ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands,

I looked again. I heard the voices of many thousands of angels. They stood around the throne and around the four living beings and the leaders.

12 S aying in a loud voice, Deserving is the Lamb, Who was sacrificed, to receive all the power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and majesty (glory, splendor) and blessing!

They said with a loud voice, “The Lamb Who was killed has the right to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and shining-greatness and thanks.”

13 A nd I heard every created thing in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea and all that is in it, crying out together, To Him Who is seated on the throne and to the Lamb be ascribed the blessing and the honor and the majesty (glory, splendor) and the power (might and dominion) forever and ever (through the eternities of the eternities)!

Then I heard every living thing in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and in the sea and all that are in them. They were saying, “Thanks and honor and shining-greatness and all power are to the One Who sits on the throne and to the Lamb forever.”

14 T hen the four living creatures (beings) said, Amen (so be it)! And the elders '> of the heavenly Sanhedrin] prostrated themselves and worshiped Him Who lives forever and ever.

The four living beings kept saying, “Let it be so!” And the twenty-four leaders fell down and worshiped.