Revelation 1

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 A revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him so that he could tel his servants what is now to takeplace very soon; he sent his angel to make it known to his servant John,	1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to show his servants what must happen soon. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
2 and John has borne witness to the Word of God and to the witness of Jesus Christ, everything that hesaw.	2 who gives witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ by reporting what he saw.
3 Blessed is anyone who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed those who hear them, if theytreasure the content, because the Time is near.	3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud and blessed are those who listen to this prophetic message and heed what is written in it, for the appointed time is near.
4 John, to the seven churches of Asia: grace and peace to you from him who is, who was, and who is tocome, from the seven spirits who are before his throne,	4 John, to the seven churches in Asia: grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne,
5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the First-born from the dead, the highest of earthly kings. Heloves us and has washed away our sins with his blood,	5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,
6 and made us a Kingdom of Priests to serve his God and Father; to him, then, be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.	6 who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father, to him be glory and power forever (and ever). Amen.
7 Look, he is coming on the clouds; everyone wil see him, even those who pierced him, and all the racesof the earth wil mourn over him. Indeed this shall be so. Amen.	7 Behold, he is coming amid the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. All the peoples of the earth will lament him. Yes. Amen.
8 'I am the Alpha and the Omega,' says the Lord God, who is, who was, and who is to come, theAlmighty.	8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "the one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty."
9 I, John, your brother and partner in hardships, in the kingdom and in perseverance in Jesus, was on theisland of Patmos on account of the Word of God and of witness to Jesus;	9 I, John, your brother, who share with you the distress, the kingdom, and the endurance we have in Jesus, found myself on the island called Patmos because I proclaimed God's word and gave testimony to Jesus.
10 it was the Lord's Day and I was in ecstasy, and I heard a loud voice behind me, like the sound of atrumpet, saying,	10 I was caught up in spirit on the Lord's day and heard behind me a voice as loud as a trumpet,
11 'Write down in a book al that you see, and send it to the seven churches of Ephesus, Smyrna,Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.'	11 which said, "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea."
12 I turned round to see who was speaking to me, and when I turned I saw seven golden lamp-stands	12 Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me, and when I turned, I saw seven gold lampstands
13 and, in the middle of them, one like a Son of man, dressed in a long robe tied at the waist with a belt ofgold.	13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, wearing an ankle-length robe, with a gold sash around his chest.
14 His head and his hair were white with the whiteness of wool, like snow, his eyes like a burning flame,	14 The hair of his head was as white as white wool or as snow, and his eyes were like a fiery flame.
15 his feet like burnished bronze when it has been refined in a furnace, and his voice like the sound of theocean.	15 His feet were like polished brass refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing water.
16 In his right hand he was holding seven stars, out of his mouth came a sharp sword, double-edged, andhis face was like the sun shining with all its force.	16 In his right hand he held seven stars. A sharp two-edged sword came out of his mouth, and his face shone like the sun at its brightest.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead, but he laid his right hand on me and said, 'Do not beafraid; it is I, the First and the Last; I am the Living One,	17 When I caught sight of him, I fell down at his feet as though dead. He touched me with his right hand and said, "Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last,
18 I was dead and look -- I am alive for ever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and of Hades.	18 the one who lives. Once I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever. I hold the keys to death and the netherworld.
19 Now write down al that you see of present happenings and what is stil to come.	19 Write down, therefore, what you have seen, and what is happening, and what will happen afterwards.
20 The secret of the seven stars you have seen in my right hand, and of the seven golden lamp-stands, isthis: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lamp-stands are the seven churchesthemselves.'	20 This is the secret meaning of the seven stars you saw in my right hand, and of the seven gold lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.