Common English Bible CEB
English Standard Version ESV
1 A revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. Christ made it known by sending it through his angel to his servant John,
1
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the witness of Jesus Christ, including all that John saw.
2
who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.
3 Favored is the one who reads the words of this prophecy out loud, and favored are those who listen to it being read, and keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
3
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
4 John, to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace and peace to you from the one who is and was and is coming, and from the seven spirits that are before God's throne,
4
John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,
5 and from Jesus Christ—the faithful witness, the firstborn from among the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To the one who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood,
5
and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood
6 who made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father—to him be glory and power forever and always. Amen.
6
and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
7 Look, he is coming with the clouds! Every eye will see him, including those who pierced him, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of him. This is so. Amen.
7
Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "the one who is and was and is coming, the Almighty."
8
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, ” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. ”
9 I, John, your brother who shares with you in the hardship, kingdom, and endurance that we have in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and my witness about Jesus.
9
I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
10 I was in a Spirit-inspired trance on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice that sounded like a trumpet.
10
I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet
11 It said, "Write down on a scroll whatever you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea."
11
saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea. ”
12 I turned to see who was speaking to me, and when I turned, I saw seven oil lamps burning on top of seven gold stands.
12
Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands,
13 In the middle of the lampstands I saw someone who looked like the Human One. He wore a robe that stretched down to his feet, and he had a gold sash around his chest.
13
and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.
14 His head and hair were white as white wool—like snow—and his eyes were like a fiery flame.
14
The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire,
15 His feet were like fine brass that has been purified in a furnace, and his voice sounded like rushing water.
15
his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters.
16 He held seven stars in his right hand, and from his mouth came a sharp, two-edged sword. His appearance was like the sun shining with all its power.
16
In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. But he put his right hand on me and said, "Don't be afraid. I'm the first and the last,
17
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last,
18 and the living one. I was dead, but look! Now I'm alive forever and always. I have the keys of Death and the Grave.
18
and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
19 So write down what you have seen, both the scene now before you and the things that are about to unfold after this.
19
Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.
20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and the seven gold lampstands, here is what they mean: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
20
As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025