Scrutatio

Giovedi, 2 maggio 2024 - Sant´ Atanasio ( Letture di oggi)

Revelation 13


font
NEW JERUSALEMKING JAMES BIBLE
1 Then I saw a beast emerge from the sea: it had seven heads and ten horns, with a coronet on each ofits ten horns, and its heads were marked with blasphemous titles.1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
2 I saw that the beast was like a leopard, with paws like a bear and a mouth like a lion; the dragon hadhanded over to it his own power and his throne and his immense authority.2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
3 I saw that one of its heads seemed to have had a fatal wound but that this deadly injury had healedand the whole world had marvel ed and fol owed the beast.3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
4 They prostrated themselves in front of the dragon because he had given the beast his authority; andthey prostrated themselves in front of the beast, saying, 'Who can compare with the beast? Who can fightagainst it?'4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
5 The beast was allowed to mouth its boasts and blasphemies and to be active for forty-two months;5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
6 and it mouthed its blasphemies against God, against his name, his heavenly Tent and al those whoare sheltered there.6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
7 It was allowed to make war against the saints and conquer them, and given power over every race,people, language and nation;7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
8 and al people of the world wil worship it, that is, everybody whose name has not been written downsince the foundation of the world in the sacrificial Lamb's book of life.8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
9 Let anyone who can hear, listen:9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
10 Those for captivity to captivity; those for death by the sword to death by the sword. This is why thesaints must have perseverance and faith.10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
11 Then I saw a second beast, emerging from the ground; it had two horns like a lamb, but made anoise like a dragon.11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
12 This second beast exercised al the power of the first beast, on its behalf making the world and al itspeople worship the first beast, whose deadly injury had healed.12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
13 And it worked great miracles, even to calling down fire from heaven onto the earth while peoplewatched.13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
14 Through the miracles which it was al owed to do on behalf of the first beast, it was able to lead astraythe people of the world and persuade them to put up a statue in honour of the beast that had been wounded bythe sword and stil lived.14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
15 It was al owed to breathe life into this statue, so that the statue of the beast was able to speak, and tohave anyone who refused to worship the statue of the beast put to death.15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
16 It compel ed everyone -- smal and great alike, rich and poor, slave and citizen -- to be branded onthe right hand or on the forehead,16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17 and made it il egal for anyone to buy or sell anything unless he had been branded with the name ofthe beast or with the number of its name.17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 There is need for shrewdness here: anyone clever may interpret the number of the beast: it is thenumber of a human being, the number 666.18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.