1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne, a book written within and without, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel, proclaiming with a loud voice: Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? 3 And no man was able, neither in heaven, nor on earth, nor under the earth, to open the book, nor to look on it. 4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open the book, nor to see it. 5 And one of the ancients said to me: Weep not; behold the lion of the tribe of Juda, the root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. 6 And I saw: and behold in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the ancients, a Lamb standing as it were slain, having seven horns and seven eyes: which are the seven Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth. 7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat on the throne. 8 And when he had opened the book, the four living creatures, and the four and twenty ancients fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints: 9 And they sung a new canticle, saying: Thou art worthy, O Lord, to take the book, and to open the seals thereof; because thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God, in thy blood, out of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation. 10 And hast made us to our God a kingdom and priests, and we shall reign on the earth. 11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne, and the living creatures, and the ancients; and the number of them was thousands of thousands, 12 Saying with a loud voice: The Lamb that was slain is worthy to receive power, and divinity, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and benediction. 13 And every creature, which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them: I heard all saying: To him that sitteth on the throne, and to the Lamb, benediction, and honour, and glory, and power, for ever and ever. 14 And the four living creatures said: Amen. And the four and twenty ancients fell down on their faces, and adored him that liveth for ever and ever.
Revelation · Douay-Rheims (Challoner), American Edition 1899
Revelation 5 Douay-Rheims (Challoner), American Edition 1899
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Cross references (14)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Ezekiel 2:9–10; Isaiah 29:11; Revelation 5:7; Daniel 12:4–9; Revelation 6:1
- 2 Revelation 5:5; Isaiah 29:11–12; Revelation 10:1; Psalm 103:20; Isaiah 41:22–23
- 3 Revelation 5:13; Isaiah 40:13–14; Romans 11:34; Isaiah 41:28
- 4 Daniel 12:8–9; Revelation 4:1
- 5 Isaiah 11:1; Jeremiah 23:5–6; Revelation 22:16; Romans 15:12; Romans 1:3
- 6 Zechariah 4:10; Revelation 5:12; Zechariah 3:9; John 1:29; John 1:36
- 7 Revelation 5:1; Revelation 4:2–3
- 8 Psalm 141:2; Revelation 8:3–4; Philippians 2:9–11; Revelation 4:10; Revelation 5:14
- 9 1 Peter 1:18–19; 1 John 1:7; Matthew 26:28; Romans 3:24–26; Psalm 40:3
- 10 Revelation 1:6; Daniel 7:27; Daniel 7:18; Revelation 20:6; Revelation 22:5
- 11 Daniel 7:10; Hebrews 12:22; Revelation 4:6; Revelation 4:4; Psalm 148:2
- 12 Revelation 5:9; Revelation 19:1; Revelation 4:11; John 17:2; Revelation 7:12
- 13 Philippians 2:10; 1 Chronicles 29:11; Psalm 148:2–13; Revelation 5:12; Romans 11:36
- 14 Revelation 19:4; Revelation 4:9–11; Revelation 5:8; Revelation 5:6; Revelation 7:12
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
… the midst of the throne, and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing as it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth." And again, he says, speaking of this very same Lamb: "And behold a white horse; …
Another example of the same is that a lion stands for Christ in the place where it is said, "The lion of the tribe of Judah hath prevailed;" and again, stands for the devil where it is written, "Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour." In the same way the serpent is …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
For although they are done on earth, yet nevertheless they are worthy of the Heavens. For when our Lord Jesus Christ lies slain [as a sacrifice], when the Spirit is with us, when He who sitteth on the right hand of the Father is here, when sons are made by the Washing, when they are fellow-citizens of those in Heaven, …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 14 (1889)
yet both Christ and the devil are called "a lion." Christ is called "a lion:" "The Lion hath prevailed of the tribe of Judah;" and the devil is called a lion: "Know ye not that your adversary the Devil walketh about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour?" Both the one and the other then is a lion; …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
"Behold the Lamb of God!" How a lion? "The Lion of the tribe of Judah hath prevailed."
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 7 (1888)