Revelation 1

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
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,	1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, in order to make known to his servants the things that must soon occur, and which he signified by sending his Angel to his servant John;
2 who gives witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ by reporting what he saw.	2 he has offered testimony to the Word of God, and whatever he saw is the testimony of Jesus Christ.
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.	3 Blessed is he who reads or hears the words of this Prophecy, and who keeps the things that have been written in it. For the time is near.
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,	4 John, to the seven Churches, which are in Asia. Grace and peace to you, from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are in the sight of his throne,
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,	5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the leader over the kings of the earth, who has loved us and has washed us from our sins with his blood,
6 who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father, to him be glory and power forever (and ever). Amen.	6 and who has made us into a kingdom and into priests for God and for his Father. To him be glory and dominion forever and ever. 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.	7 Behold, he arrives with the clouds, and every eye shall see him, even those who pierced him. And all the tribes of the earth shall lament for themselves over him. Even so. Amen.
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."	8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord God, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.
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.	9 I, John, your brother, and a sharer in the tribulation and in the kingdom and in patient endurance for Christ Jesus, was on the island which is called Patmos, because of the Word of God and the testimony to Jesus.
10 I was caught up in spirit on the Lord's day and heard behind me a voice as loud as a trumpet,	10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a great voice, like that of a trumpet,
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."	11 saying, “What you see, write in a book, and send it to the seven Churches, which are in Asia: to Ephesus, and to Smyrna, and to Pergamus, and to Thyatira, and to Sardis, and to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
12 Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me, and when I turned, I saw seven gold lampstands	12 And I turned around, so as to see the voice which was speaking with me. And having turned around, I saw seven golden lampstands.
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.	13 And in the midst of the seven golden lampstands was one resembling the Son of man, clothed to the feet with a vestment, and wrapped to the breast with a wide belt of gold.
14 The hair of his head was as white as white wool or as snow, and his eyes were like a fiery flame.	14 But his head and hair were bright, like white wool, or like snow; and his eyes were like a flame of fire;
15 His feet were like polished brass refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing water.	15 and his feet resembled shining brass, just as in a burning furnace; and his voice was like the voice of many waters.
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.	16 And in his right hand, he held the seven stars; and from his mouth went out a sharp two-edged sword; and his face was like the sun, shining with all its might.
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,	17 And when I had seen him, I fell at his feet, like one who is dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.
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.	18 And I am alive, though I was dead. And, behold, I live forever and ever. And I hold the keys of death and of Hell.
19 Write down, therefore, what you have seen, and what is happening, and what will happen afterwards.	19 Therefore, write the things which you have seen, and which are, and which must occur afterward:
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.	20 the mystery of the seven stars, which you have seen in my right hand, and of the seven golden lampstands. The seven stars are the Angels of the seven Churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven Churches.”