The Lamb is worthy
1 Then in the right hand of the one sitting on the throne I saw a scroll. It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel announcing in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open up the scroll and break its seals?” 3 But no one was able, not in the sky or the earth or beneath the earth, to open the scroll and look at it. 4 I cried and sobbed because no one was found worthy to open up the scroll and look at it. 5 But one of the elders says to me, “Don’t cry; look! The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered in order to open up the scroll and its seals.”
6 Then I saw a Lamb standing in the middle of the throne surrounded by the four creatures and the elders. It appeared to have been slaughtered, and it had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 It came and took the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne, 8 and when it did, the four creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb. Each of them had a harp and a golden bowl filled with incense, which is the prayers of the holy people.
9 They sing a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals because you were slaughtered, and with your blood you bought us for God from every tribe and language and people group and nation. 9 10 You made them a kingdom and priests to God, and they will reign on the earth.”
11 I looked and heard the voices of many angels surrounding the throne and the creatures and the elders; they numbered in the ten-thousands, even the millions! 12 They shouted loudly, “The Lamb who had been slaughtered is worthy to take the power, the wealth, the wisdom, the strength, the esteem, the honor, and the blessing!” 13 And every created thing in the sky, the earth, beneath the earth, and on or in the sea— I heard them all saying, “Blessing and esteem, honor and mighty rule belong forever to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb!” 14 Then the four creatures said, “Absolutely!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
- 9 According to https://www.preceptaustin.org/revelation-5-commentary, manuscript study strongly indicates that the elders include themselves in the company of the redeemed. But the four creatures are also singing this song, and it is likely they who refer to the redeemed as “them” in response to the song of the elders.