1Then I saw the Lamb open one of the seven6:1 Other mss omit seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder,6:1 Rv 14:2; 19:6 “Come!”

2I looked, and there was a white horse.6:2 Zch 6:1–3; Rv 19:11 Its rider held a bow;6:2 Zch 9:13–14 a crown6:2 Rv 14:14 was given to him, and he went out as a conqueror in order to conquer.6:2 Or went out conquering and in order to conquer

3When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!”

4Then another horse went out, a fiery red one,6:4 Zch 1:8; 6:2 and its rider was allowed to take peace from the earth, so that people would slaughter one another. And a large sword was given to him.6:4 Mt 10:34

5When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and there was a black horse.6:5 Zch 6:2,6 Its rider held a set of scales in his hand.6:5 1Sm 2:3; Jb 6:2; 31:6; Ps 62:9; Pr 16:2

6Then I heard something like a voice among the four living creatures say, “A quart of wheat for a denarius,6:6 A denarius = one day’s wage and three quarts of barley for a denarius,6:6 2Kg 6:25; 7:1 but do not harm the oil and the wine.”6:6 Rv 7:3; 9:4

7When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!”

8And I looked, and there was a pale green6:8 Or a greenish gray horse. Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following after him.6:8 Hs 13:14; Rv 1:18; 20:13 They were6:8 Other mss read He was given authority6:8 Mt 10:1; 28:18; Rv 9:3 over a fourth of the earth, to kill by the sword, by famine, by plague, and by the wild animals of the earth.6:8 Jr 14:12; 15:2–3; 24:10; 29:17–18; Ezk 5:12,17; 14:21; 29:5

9When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered because of the word of God and the testimony they had given.6:9 Other mss add about the Lamb6:9 Rv 1:2,9; 12:17; 19:10; 20:4

10They cried out with a loud voice, “Lord,6:10 Or “Master the one who is holy and true,6:10 Rv 3:7 how long until you judge those who live on the earth and avenge our blood?6:10 Dt 32:43; Ps 79:10; 119:84; Rv 19:2”

11So they were each given a white robe, and they were told to rest a little while longer until the number would be completed of their fellow servants and their brothers and sisters, who were going to be killed just as they had been.

12Then I saw him open6:12 Or I saw when he opened the sixth seal. A violent earthquake occurred;6:12 Rv 11:13; 16:18 the sun turned black like sackcloth6:12 Is 13:10; 50:3; Jl 2:10; 3:15; Mt 24:29 made of hair; the entire moon6:12 Or the full moon became like blood;6:12 Jl 2:31; Ac 2:20

13the stars6:13 Perhaps meteors of heaven fell to the earth as a fig tree drops its unripe figs when shaken by a high wind;

14the sky was split apart like a scroll being rolled up;6:14 Is 34:4 and every mountain and island was moved from its place.6:14 Ezk 38:20; Nah 1:5; Rv 16:20