⁴ And they worshiped the dragon, because he had given authority to the beast. They also worshiped the beast, chanting, “Who is like the beast, and who can make war against him?”^[a]

⁵ The beast was given a mouth uttering great boasts and blasphemies. It was given authority to act for forty-two months. ⁶ Then he opened his mouth with blasphemies against God, to slander His name and His tabernacle—that is, those dwelling in heaven.