The Seven Seals
1
Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of 1the seven seals, and I heard 2one of the four living creatures say 3with a voice like thunder, 4"Come!"
2
And I looked, and behold, 5a white horse! And 6its rider had a bow, and 7a crown was given to him, and he came out 8conquering, and to conquer.
3
When he opened the second seal, I heard 9the second living creature say, "Come!"
4
And out came another horse, 10bright red. Its rider was permitted 11to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.
5
When he opened the third seal, I heard the 12third living creature say, "Come!" And I looked, and behold, 13a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand.
6
And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, 14"A quarta of wheat for a denarius,b and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and 15do not harm the oil and wine!"
7
When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of 16the fourth living creature say, "Come!"
8
And I looked, and behold, 17a pale horse! And its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill 18with sword and with famine and with pestilence and 19by wild beasts of the earth.
9
When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under 20the altar 21the souls of those who had been slain 22for the word of God and for 23the witness they had borne.
10
They cried out with a loud voice, "O Sovereign Lord, 24holy and true, 25how long 26before you will judge and 27avenge our blood on 28those who dwell on the earth?"
11
Then they were each given 29a white robe and 30told to rest a little longer, 31until the number of their fellow servantsc and their brothersd32should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.
12
When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, 33there was a great earthquake, and 34the sun became black as 35sackcloth, the full moon became like blood,
13
and 36the stars of the sky fell to the earth 37as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale.
14
38The sky vanished 39like a scroll that is being rolled up, and 40every mountain and island was removed from its place.
15
Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slavee and free, 41hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains,
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)