Hati Na Mwana-Kondoo

Kisha nikaona katika mkono wa kulia wa yule aliyeketi kwe nye kile kiti cha enzi hati iliyoandikwa ndani na nje, ambayo ilikuwa imefungwa na mihuri saba. Tena nikamwona malaika mwenye nguvu akitangaza kwa sauti kuu, “Ni nani anayestahili kufungua hati hii na kuvunja mihuri yake?” Lakini hakupatikana mtu mbinguni, juu ya nchi, wala chini ya nchi aliyeweza kufungua hati hiyo, wala kuitazama. Nililia sana kwa sababu hakupatikana mtu aliyestahili kuifungua hati hiyo wala kuitazama. Kisha, mmoja wapo wa wale wazee akaniambia, “Usilie! Tazama, yule simba wa kabila la Yuda, wa ukoo wa Daudi, ameshinda. Yeye anaweza kufun gua hati hiyo na kuvunja mihuri yake saba.” Katikati ya kile kiti cha enzi na wale viumbe wanne na wale wazee, nikaona Mwana- Kondoo amesimama, akionekana kama amechinjwa. Alikuwa na pembe saba, na macho saba, ambayo ni wale roho saba wa Mungu waliotumwa ulimwenguni kote . Huyo Mwana-Kondoo akaenda, akaichukua ile hati kutoka kwenye mkono wa kulia wa yule aliyeketi kwenye kile kiti cha enzi. Alipokwisha kuichukua ile hati, wale viumbe wanne pamoja na wale wazee ishirini na wanne walianguka mbele ya yule Mwana-Kondoo. Kila mmoja wao alikuwa na kinubi, nao walikuwa wameshika mabakuli ya dhahabu yaliyojaa ubani , ambao ni maombi ya watu wa Mungu. Nao wakaimba wimbo mpya: “Wewe unastahili kuichukua hati na kuifungua mihuri yake. Kwa sababu wewe uliuawa na kwa damu yako ukamnunulia Mungu watu kutoka katika kila kabila na kila lugha; watu wa kila jamaa na kila taifa. 10 Umewafanya hawa wawe ufalme na makuhani wa kumtumikia Mungu wetu, na watata wala ulimwenguni.” 11 Kisha nikatazama, nikasikia sauti za mal aika wengi sana wakizunguka kile kiti cha enzi, pamoja na wale viumbe wanne na wale wazee ishirini na wanne. Idadi ya hao mal aika ilikuwa ni maelfu na maelfu na kumi elfu mara kumi elfu. 12 Nao waliimba kwa sauti kuu, “Mwana -Kondoo aliyeuawa anasta hili kupewa uweza na utajiri na hekima na nguvu na heshima, na utukufu na sifa!” 13 Kisha nikasikia kila kiumbe mbinguni na duniani, juu ya nchi na chini ya nchi, baharini na vyote vilivy omo baharini wakiimba, “Baraka na heshima na utukufu na uweza ni wake yeye aketiye juu ya kiti cha enzi; na kwa Mwana-Kondoo, hata milele na milele! 14 Na wale viumbe wenye uhai wanne wakasema, “Amina!” Na wale wazee wakaanguka kifudifudi wakaabudu.

The Scroll and the Lamb

Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne(A) a scroll with writing on both sides(B) and sealed(C) with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel(D) proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion(E) of the tribe of Judah,(F) the Root of David,(G) has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Then I saw a Lamb,(H) looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures(I) and the elders.(J) The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes,(K) which are the seven spirits[a](L) of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.(M) And when he had taken it, the four living creatures(N) and the twenty-four elders(O) fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp(P) and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers(Q) of God’s people. And they sang a new song, saying:(R)

“You are worthy(S) to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
    and with your blood(T) you purchased(U) for God
    persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.(V)
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests(W) to serve our God,
    and they will reign[b] on the earth.”(X)

11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand.(Y) They encircled the throne and the living creatures(Z) and the elders.(AA) 12 In a loud voice they were saying:

“Worthy is the Lamb,(AB) who was slain,(AC)
    to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
    and honor and glory and praise!”(AD)

13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth(AE) and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

“To him who sits on the throne(AF) and to the Lamb(AG)
    be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”(AH)

14 The four living creatures(AI) said, “Amen,”(AJ) and the elders(AK) fell down and worshiped.(AL)

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 5:6 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
  2. Revelation 5:10 Some manuscripts they reign