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The Opening of the Scroll

¹ Then I saw in the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne a scroll written on the front and back and sealed with seven seals. ² And I saw a powerful angel proclaiming in a loud voice: "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?" ³ But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look into it. ⁴ So I began weeping bitterly because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. ⁵ Then one of the elders said to me, "Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has conquered; thus he can open the scroll and its seven seals."

⁶ Then I saw standing in the middle of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the middle of the elders, a Lamb that appeared to have been killed. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. ⁷ Then he came and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne, ⁸ and when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders threw themselves to the ground before the Lamb. Each of them had a harp and golden bowls full of incense (which are the prayers of the saints). ⁹ They were singing a new song:

¹¹ Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels in a circle around the throne, as well as the living creatures and the elders. Their number was ten thousand times ten thousand—thousands times thousands— ¹² all of whom were singing in a loud voice:

¹³ Then I heard every creature—in heaven, on earth, under the earth, in the sea, and all that is in them—singing:

¹⁴ And the four living creatures were saying "Amen," and the elders threw themselves to the ground and worshiped.