1I watched as the Lamb broke open the first of the seven seals. I heard one of the four living creatures shout with a thunderous voice, “Come! ¹⁹”

2I looked and saw a white horse. Its rider was holding a bow. He was given a crown, and he rode out conquering so that he would be victorious.

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

4Another horse came out, a red one. Its rider was given a large sword, and the power to take away peace from the earth so that people would slaughter one other.

5When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” I looked and saw a black horse. Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand.

6I heard what seemed to be a voice coming from among the four living creatures that said, “Two pounds of wheat cost a day's wages, and six pounds of barley cost the same. ²⁰But don't damage the oil or the wine.” ²¹

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

8I looked and saw a pale horse. The rider was called Death, and Hades followed him. ²²They received authority over a quarter of the earth to kill people by the sword, by famine, by plague, and by wild beasts.

9When he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar those ²³who had been killed because of their dedication to the word of God and their faithful witness.

10They cried out, shouting, “How long, Lord who is holy and true, before you will judge and bring to justice those on earth who spilled our blood?”

11Each one of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait for a little longer until their number was complete—their fellow-believers and brothers who would be killed like them.

12When he opened the sixth seal there was a tremendous earthquake. The sun turned black like hair sackcloth and the whole moon turned red like blood.

13The stars of heaven fell to earth like unripe figs falling from a fig tree shaken by a windstorm.

14The sky disappeared like a scroll rolling up, and all the mountains and islands were moved from where they were.

15The kings of the earth, the great leaders, the wealthy, the powerful, and all people, slave or free, hid themselves in caves and among the rocks in the mountains.

16They called on the mountains and the rocks, telling them, “Fall upon us! Hide us ²⁴from the face of the one who sits on the throne, and from the judgment ²⁵of the Lamb.

17For the terrible day of their judgment has come, and who can stand against it?”