1 I watched as the Lamb {arnion: Sovereign Revealer} opened one of the seven seals {sphragis: divine judgments}, and I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come.”
2 Then I looked, and there before me was a white {leukos: bright, unstained} horse. The one seated on it carried a bow, and he was given a crown {stephanos: victor’s wreath}; he went out as a conqueror, determined to conquer.
3 And when He {arnion, Worthy Lamb} opened the second seal {sphragis: heavenly decree}, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come!”
4 Another horse came out, fiery red; and its rider was permitted to take the peace from the earth {ges: human society}, so that people would slaughter one another, and he was given a great sword {machaira: heavy war blade}.
5 When He {Arnion, Worthy Seal-Opener} opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come.” Then I looked, and behold, a black horse, and the rider held a pair of scales {zygon: instrument for weighing} in his hand.
6 And I heard what sounded like a voice {phone: authoritative message} in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A measure of wheat for a denarius, and three measures of barley for a denarius; but do not harm the oil and the wine {oinos: valued drink}.”
7 And when He {arnion, Seal-Opening Judge} opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature {zoiou: throne attendant} saying, “Come.”
8 And I saw, and behold, a pale horse {chloros: sickly greenish}, and the one who sat on it was named Death; Hades {hades: realm of the dead} followed him. And authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth to kill with the sword, and with famine, and with death, and by the wild beasts of the earth.
9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those slain for the word of God {Theos, Honored Recipient} and the testimony {marturia: faithful public witness} they bore.
10 And they cried out with a loud voice: “How long, O Master {despotes, Patient Judge}, holy and true, will You not judge and avenge our blood {haima: life poured out} on those who dwell on the earth?”
11 And to each of them a white robe {stole: ceremonial robe} was given, and they were told to rest a little while longer, until their fellow servants and their brothers—who were about to be killed just as they themselves had been—should be completed {pleroo: brought to completion}.
12 And I watched when He {Arnion, Sovereign Judge} opened the sixth seal {sphragis: judgment marker}; a great earthquake occurred, the sun became black like sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood.
13 And the stars {asteres: heavenly lights} of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs {olynthous: immature fruit} when shaken by a mighty wind.
14 And the heaven {ouranos: celestial expanse} departed like a scroll {biblion: written roll} being rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved from their places.
15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men {megistanes: prominent nobles}, and the commanders, and the rich, and the mighty, and every slave, and every free person, hid themselves in the caves {spelaia: underground refuges} and among the rocks of the mountains.
16 And they say to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall upon us and hide us from the face of the One {Theos, Enthroned Judge} who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb {Arnion, Holy Judge}.”
17 For the great day of their {theos kai arnion: Shared Wrath Judges} wrath has come; who then is able to stand {stathenai: remain firm}?